UK weather: Britain on course for sunniest winter since 1929 – but also one of the wettest too
Although people in Scotland have had a very wet winter, south of the border has enjoyed sunny periods
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It may not feel like it for many in the country, but the UK is on course to have its sunniest winter in almost a century.
Statistics released by the Met Office show that by 25 February Britain will have already seen 189 hours of sunshine – equal to the 2001 record but with three more days left to the end of the meteorological winter.
Forecasters are predicting we should exceed the previous limit by seven hours.
However, although the UK overall has enjoyed one of the sunniest periods since records in 1929, parts of the country have had their wettest winters in years.
Scotland has shivered through one of the wettest winters since 1910, but southern, eastern and north-east areas of England have been drier than average.
A Met Office spokesperson told The Independent that the sunnier weather could not be taken as part of a broader change.
“What you have to remember is that records have got better and have been kept better, so you wouldn’t have enough evidence to say that it this a completely stand-out winter.
“We are also talking about a relatively small period of time,” they added.
Last winter, which was the wettest on record, saw 544mm of rainfall but this winter has seen just 375mm and most of it was concentrated on the more northern areas of Scotland.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments