A top climate adviser to the UK government has sounded the alarm on rising temperatures, stating that they will soon become the norm, and emphasized the need for increased preparedness to mitigate the effects of climate change.

This warning comes as the Met Office announced that 2025 is poised to be the UK's hottest year on record, with climate change being the primary driver of the rising temperatures.

With only a short time left in the year, the average air temperature in the UK for 2025 is projected to reach approximately 10.05C, narrowly surpassing the previous record of 10.03C set in 2022.

According to Professor Rachel Kyte, "the data encapsulates our future," as she spoke to the BBC about the implications of the rising temperatures.

The key question now, Professor Kyte said, is "how we will prepare and build our resilience to this new reality."

The combination of low rainfall and persistent warmth during the spring and summer months left the country vulnerable to droughts and wildfires.

While yearly temperatures naturally fluctuate, scientists are clear that human-induced climate change is the primary factor driving the UK's rapid warming trend.

Professor Kyte, the UK's special representative for climate, noted that the carbon dioxide emissions from the last 20-30 years are now driving the current warmth, and that failing to curb emissions will lead to continued severe impacts.

To address the inevitability of higher temperatures, Professor Kyte emphasized the need for the UK to become more resilient through investments in nature and infrastructure.

She cautioned that failing to invest in adaptation measures now will result in significantly higher costs in the future.

By the end of 2025, the UK's 10 warmest years on record will all have occurred within the last two decades, based on measurements dating back to the late 1800s.

Amy Doherty, a climate scientist at the Met Office, stated that human-caused climate change is the primary driver of the warming trend in the UK, as it is globally.

Doherty warned that the UK will continue to experience more record-breaking heatwaves and extreme weather events, making what was once considered normal now seem relatively cool by comparison.

The Met Office's projection for 2025 is based on observed temperatures up to December 21 and assumes the remaining days of the year will be 2C below the long-term December average.

Although the Met Office cannot confirm with certainty that 2025 will be the hottest year, it is the most likely outcome.

If 2025 sets a new record, it will be the sixth time this century that the UK has experienced a new annual temperature record, following previous records in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014, and 2022.

Mike Kendon, a climate scientist at the Met Office, noted that the changes observed in the UK are unprecedented in records dating back to the 19th century.

The expected new record for 2025 is attributed to the persistent heat experienced during the spring and summer months.

The UK's spring and summer were the warmest on record, with long, hot, and sunny days characterizing the periods.

Each month from March to August saw temperatures more than 2C above the long-term average between 1961 and 1990.

Temperatures peaked at 35.8C, and although this is below the 40C highs seen in July 2022, the UK experienced repeated hot spells throughout the year.

Four separate heatwaves were declared across the country, albeit relatively short-lived.

The UK Health Security Agency issued several heat-health alerts during the summer months.

Mr. Kendon warned that prolonged periods of hotter days and nights pose an increased risk to elderly and vulnerable individuals.

He also noted that the changing climate will impact the agriculture sector, influencing the types of crops that can be grown in the UK.

The spring season was particularly dry, with the UK experiencing its sixth driest spring since 1836.

The combination of warm weather and low rainfall led to drought conditions in large parts of the country.

Official droughts were declared in several regions of England and Wales by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, respectively.

Parts of eastern Scotland also experienced significant water scarcity, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Recent rainfall has alleviated the drought conditions in most areas, but water levels remain below average in some regions.

Jess Neumann, associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, warned that the significant rainfall deficit has major implications for farming, river levels, and drinking water availability.

The repeated shifts between drought and flooding are making it challenging for communities to adapt to the increasing weather extremes.

The prolonged dry and warm weather created ideal conditions for wildfires, which have become increasingly common.

By late April, the area burned by wildfires in the UK had already surpassed the previous annual record, according to data from the Global Wildfires Information System.

More than 47,100 hectares have been burned throughout 2025, exceeding the previous high of 28,100 hectares in 2019.

Andy Cole, chief fire officer at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, reported that firefighters in his region responded to over 1,000 wildfires this year, an unprecedented number.

Cole, who has over 20 years of experience, noted a marked increase in the number of wildfires in recent years.

As the UK continues to warm due to greenhouse gas emissions, scientists expect the country to experience more extreme weather events.

Dr. Doherty warned that the conditions people will experience in the future will continue to change, with more wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves.

She also noted that the UK will experience more intense rainfall during the winter months, leading to increased flooding, as the climate continues to change.

Global temperatures are expected to make this year one of the hottest on record, with the European Copernicus climate service predicting it will be either the second or third warmest year ever documented, echoing the UK's own experience with extreme heat.

Meanwhile, the global effort to address climate change is facing challenges, as countries such as the US, a major fossil fuel producer, are reassessing their commitments to achieving net zero emissions, potentially undermining international cooperation.

This report was supplemented by contributions from Justin Rowlatt, Kate Stephens, and Zahra Fatima.