LONDON: The UK’s 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2002, the Met Office has said. The country’s 10 hottest years since the 19th century have all occurred since 2002, as climate change makes the U.K. warmer and wetter.

The Met Office said in its State of the U.K. Climate report Wednesday that 2014 was the warmest year in records going back to 1884. The runners-up are 2006, 2011, 2007, 2017, 2003, 2018, 2004, 2002 and 2005.

The 10 coldest years were all before 1964.

Commenting on the report, published in the International Journal of Climatology, St. Andrews University climate scientist Michael Byrne said the trend was “hugely significant, though not surprising” since the world has warmed by 1 degree Celsius since pre-industrial times.

Britain is also getting wetter, with 13% more summer rain falling in the 21st century than the 20th.

(Agencies)