THE UK’s annual average temperature topped 10C for the first time in 2022 with Scotland’s average the lowest across the four nations.
The mean temperature across the 12 months was 10.03C, beating the previous high of 9.88C in 2014, the Met Office said.
It means that 15 of the UK’s top 20 warmest years on record have all occurred this century – with the entire top 10 in the past two decades.
Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said the figures showed the impact of climate change.
READ MORE: UK Government urged to halt Rosebank oil field exploration
“Although an arbitrary number, the UK surpassing an annual average temperature of 10C is a notable moment in our climatological history.
“This moment comes as no surprise, since 1884 all the 10 years recording the highest annual temperature have occurred from 2003.
“It is clear from the observational record that human-induced global warming is already impacting the UK’s climate.”
England recorded the highest average temperature at 10.94C followed by Wales (10.23C), Northern Ireland (9.85C) and Scotland (8.5C).
The Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell said rising temperatures “should concern us all”, adding that the “climate crisis isn’t a remote threat”.
“Every fraction of a degree matters when it comes to our environment and ensuring that we can have a sustainable future”, he said.
Ruskell continued: “There isn’t any time to waste, which is why it is so vital that all governments, including the UK, recognise the severity of the threat and take big steps to transition our energy supply and our economy.
“As a starting point that has to mean halting the Rosebank development and the coal mine in Cumbria and, instead, making the investment that is needed in renewables.”
Last year, Scotland also recorded its hottest-ever day as temperatures climbed to 34.8C in the Borders amid a summer heatwave.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here