This is the UK’s third heatwave of 2025, which has been a very unusual year for weather extremes. Temperatures are approaching record highs after the warmest April and June on record. The heat that keeps coming is not simply a product of natural weather patterns, but it is also a clear sign of climate change caused by people. Experts say that global warming is making heat waves worse, and the UK is smashing records for high temperatures, especially in the southeast. With these kinds of extreme weather happening more often, many are starting to wonder if this is simply a short hot wave or if this is how summer will be in the UK from now on.

What Is Causing the UK’s Record-Breaking Heatwaves?

There have been several heatwaves in the UK already this year, including the hottest spring and June on record. Faversham, Kent, saw a high of 35.8°C on July 1, breaking previous records for this year. Even if this is still lower than the UK’s all-time high of 40°C (set in 2022), the trend of excessive heat is still quite worrying.

Climate change is the main reason why temperatures are rising. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that human activity, especially burning fossil fuels, has had a big effect on world temperatures. Because of this, extreme weather events like heat waves are happening more often and getting worse. Here is the link to our article on the UK Heatwave 2025

How is global warming changing heat waves?

Professor Ed Hawkins, a climate scientist at Reading University, says that a 1°C rise in global temperatures doesn’t only mean warmer days. It can also cause heatwaves that are 3–4°C hotter than they would have been otherwise. The seas absorb greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, which store energy and make the heat stronger. But marine heatwaves are happening more often, which makes the oceans less able to absorb heat and makes world climates even less stable.

Could the heat be caused by El Niño?

El Niño and other occurrences, in addition to climate change, affect world temperatures. El Niño, which makes the Pacific Ocean warmer, usually makes the whole world warmer than usual. However, NOAA’s most current research shows that El Niño’s or La Niña’s warming effects are small compared to the global warming trend that is already happening.

In the past, like in 2023/24, excessive heat was partly caused by El Niño. But now researchers agree that climate change is the main cause of rising temperatures around the world. Here is the link to our article on UK Heatwave Safety

Is This Summer Like 1976?

People often compare the UK’s heatwaves to the famous summer of 1976, which was the longest heatwave in UK history. But the average temperatures in June 2025 were higher than they were in the summer of 1976. Back then, the heat only afflicted some portions of the UK. Now, heat waves affect considerably greater areas.

As the climate warms, these rare events are becoming more common.

What can we expect next regarding the weather in the UK?

The hot wave is likely to last until early next week, but cooler weather is forecast to come later, especially in the north. But high-pressure systems will probably bring back warmer and drier weather to the southern regions of the UK.

The weather in the UK will probably be warmer than usual this summer, especially in the south. Temperatures may drop for a short time around the end of July, but long-range projections say that heat waves will continue to be a big part of the UK’s summers.

In the end, is this what the weather in the UK will be like in the future?

As temperatures rise more and more often, 2025 is shaping up to be a turning moment for the UK. There is a strong link between climate change and the rise of heat waves, and there is no prospect of relief. Because the country is experiencing increasingly frequent and severe heat waves, it’s clear that something needs to be done right now to deal with these new environmental problems. Preparing for this kind of bad weather is vital to public health, the economy, and infrastructure. Now is the time to change, before these heat waves become normal.