Last month, the UK experienced the second warmest September ever, with temperatures that would have been “practically impossible” without human-induced climate change, according to the national weather agency on Monday.
The Met Office, citing preliminary statistics, said the average temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius in September equalled a record set in 2006, making it the second-highest month since measurements began in 1884.
“The temperature in September 2023 was significantly influenced by climate change, and our attribution study shows how this figure would have been practically impossible in a climate without human-induced greenhouse gas emissions,” said Met Office Senior Scientist Jennifer Pirret in a statement.
“The temperatures of this September are still unlikely and required the right combination of large-scale conditions and weather patterns, but climate change has helped make this possible.”
Last month also had the warmest day of 2023 so far, although September was wetter than usual, with nearly a third more rain than the UK’s average.
Climate scientists have predicted that record-breaking temperatures will occur more frequently in the UK in the coming years.
Met Office statistics show that the 10 warmest years in the UK have all occurred this century, including the hottest day ever recorded – in July of the previous year – which fueled wildfires and resulted in heat-related deaths.
