In south-east England, climate expert Kendon notes, “a new warmer climate is emerging.” This shift signifies significant changes in weather patterns across the region.
Concurrently, areas like the Vale of York and Lancashire are experiencing temperatures akin to those recorded in Greater London during the period from 1961 to 1990, indicating a concerning trend.
“Think of this warming as moving north and uphill,” Kendon explained, emphasizing that the UK is progressively losing its coldest habitats located in the mountain regions.
This summer, the impacts of a heatwave have become evident, with numerous areas in the UK facing above-average temperatures and elevated humidity levels.
Experts from Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimate that more than 2,700 individuals may have succumbed to heat-related conditions in England and Wales during the extreme heat waves of May and June.
Researchers have also evaluated water availability during spring and summer, noting the increasing frequency of droughts.
Spring 2025 marked a significant shift, with most regions in England and Wales experiencing less than half the average rainfall recorded between 1991 and 2020, resulting in the driest spring in over a century.
The flow of water through England’s rivers from March to August 2025 was the second lowest since 1961, a clear indication of declining water resources.
Looking ahead, climate change is projected to cause more intense winter rainfall and flooding across the UK, while hotter and drier summers are expected to lead to increasingly severe droughts.
The decline in rainfall is adversely affecting soil quality and food production. This year, soil moisture levels in south-central England were below average by the end of June.
Drier soil hinders plant growth, which in turn impacts wildlife such as birds and animals that rely on these plants for sustenance, as well as food crop development.
Additionally, dry terrain raises the likelihood of wildfires, and parched soils can heat up more quickly, exacerbating the effects of heatwaves.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk