UK mild climate over

Last year the UK weather saw more extremes than previously on record according to a new report indicating the traditional mild British weather is coming to an end.

State of the UK Climate 2020 by the International Journal of Climatology measured temperature, sunshine, precipitation and wind speed during 2011 – 20. Near – coast surface sea temperature and sea level as well as a short section on phenology of first leaf and bare tree indicators of four common shrubs or tree species were measured.

Its findings concluded year 2020 was the third warmest, fifth wettest and eight sunniest on record for the UK. No other year has fallen in the top-10 for all three variables for the UK. We all remember the beautiful early spring, the eighth warmest on record, making lock – down more bearable. That was the fourth – equal warmest April since 1884. Then gardeners struggled with water running off the hard – baked soil. Remember brilliant sunshine on Christmas Day? December was the fifth warmest since then.  

This resulted over the last decade less energy demand with six per cent less heating degree days and seven per cent more growing degree days. The air frosts were milder with 16 per cent fewer days and land frost reduced by 14 per cent compared with average between the 1981 and 2010.

Yet this year damage was still caused by the lateness of the frost, as those who put in any tender plants before they hit will know.

Britain is warming at a broadly consistent although slightly higher temperature then the global mean. The ten warmest years since 1884 have occurred since 2002.