Fact Check: "The UK recorded a temperature of 34.7°C in July 2025."
What We Know
According to the Met Office, the UK has been experiencing increasingly higher temperatures, with records being broken more frequently in recent years. On July 1, 2025, the temperature in central London reached 34.7°C, marking it as the hottest day of the year so far. This temperature was confirmed by the Met Office, which is the UK's national weather service and a reliable source for climate data.
The historical context provided by the BBC indicates that temperatures above 30°C have become more common in the UK, especially in recent years. The hottest June temperature recorded since 1960 was 35.6°C in 1976, with July temperatures often exceeding those of June. The trend suggests that extreme heat events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, which is supported by various studies.
Analysis
The claim that the UK recorded a temperature of 34.7°C in July 2025 is substantiated by the Met Office, which is a credible source for climate data. Their data is typically reliable, as it is collected from long-running historic stations across the UK. However, it is important to note that the data is provisional until full quality control is completed, which can take some time.
The BBC provides additional context about the increasing frequency of high-temperature records in the UK, emphasizing that climate change is a significant factor in this trend. The BBC's analysis is based on Met Office data and expert opinions, adding to its credibility. Furthermore, the Birmingham Mail corroborates the Met Office's report, confirming that the temperature reached 34.4°C at Writtle, Essex, on the same day, which aligns closely with the reported 34.7°C in London.
However, while the temperature of 34.7°C is confirmed, it is essential to recognize that the specific date and location of this record could be subject to updates or corrections as more data becomes available. The Met Office's data is provisional until fully verified, which means that while the claim is currently supported, it may change as further quality control is conducted.
Conclusion
Verdict: Unverified
While the claim that the UK recorded a temperature of 34.7°C in July 2025 is supported by credible sources such as the Met Office and corroborated by other news outlets, the data remains provisional. Until the Met Office completes its quality control, the claim cannot be fully verified as final. Therefore, while there is strong evidence supporting the claim, it remains unverified until confirmed by the Met Office's final data release.
Sources
- Historic station data - Met Office
- How unusual is this UK heat and is climate change to blame? - BBC
- Met Office confirms hottest day of 2025 so far as mercury tops 34C - Birmingham Mail
- UK weather: Forecast for July revealed - Sky News
- Met Office blames man-made climate change for heatwave - The Telegraph