2010s in the UK was the second hottest decade in a CENTURY, fuelling fears climate change is occurring more rapidly than feared
- The past decade saw eight new high-temperature records in the UK
- Experts warned climate change was likely to produce more heat records
- The Met Office said 2010 to 2019 was only slightly behind 2000 to 2009
The past decade in the UK was the second hottest in the past 100 years and set eight high-temperature records, figures revealed last night.
The Met Office said 2010 to 2019 was only slightly behind 2000 to 2009.
It saw maximum temperature records in February, July, October and November.
The past decade in the UK was the second hottest in the past 100 years and set eight high-temperature records. Pictured, sunbathers on Bournemouth beach in July 25, 2019 on the day the UK surpassed the hottest July day on record
And, pending verification, a potential new one last month when Achfary in the Scottish Highlands recorded 65.6F (18.7C) on December 28.
But there was just one low-temperature record, with -4.7C (23.5F) in Tredegar, South Wales, during the so-called Beast from the East in March 2018.
Experts warned climate change was likely to produce more heat records this decade.
The hottest winter day on record of 70.2F (21.2C) was set at Kew Gardens in west London on February 26. And July 25 saw the hottest day ever when 101.66F (38.7C) was registered at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens.
Dr Mark McCarthy, of the National Climate Information Centre, said: ‘It is notable how many of these extreme records have been set in the most recent decade.
‘We are expecting the warming trend to continue through the 21st century and we would expect these sorts of records subsequently to be broken in the future.’
The mildest conditions over the last weekend were in northern parts of the country due to a freak rush of tropical air.
The Met Office said Cassley, in Sutherland, Scotland, reached 62.4F (16.9C) at 3am last Sunday which comfortably beat the 61F (16.1C) recorded on December 29 and 30 in 1925.
Daytime temperatures on Saturday peaked at 55.2F (12.9C) at Bala, Gwynedd, and 54.5F (12.5C) at Keswick in Cumbria, while 52.5F (11.4C) was recorded at Chillingham Barns, Northumberland.
The previous record in December was 63.8F (17.7C) in England in 1985 and 1994 while 64.9F (18.3C) was recorded in Scotland in 1948.
In contrast, Rome only reached a high of 48F (9.9C) and Athens 46F (7.8C) earlier this week.