The United Kingdom has concluded its fifth wettest winter since records began in 1836, with a total of 445.8mm of rainfall across the three months of December, January, and February. This figure positions the recent winter just behind the record-breaking winter of 2013-14, which saw 545.3mm of rain. The Met Office's provisional statistics highlight a significant trend towards wetter winter seasons.
February played a pivotal role in this winter's rainfall totals, being the second mildest February on record for the UK, with an average temperature of 7.0°C. This warmth was accompanied by persistent rainfall, particularly across England and Wales, which both experienced their wettest Februarys since 1998. England recorded 130.9mm of rain, while Wales saw 189.0mm. Scotland and Northern Ireland also experienced above-average rainfall for the month, though not to the same extent as their southern counterparts.
Beyond the rain, February 2024 was also notably dull. The UK received only 56.7 hours of sunshine on average, making it the third dullest February on record. England experienced 57.7 hours of sunshine, Wales 58.8 hours, Scotland 49.3 hours, and Northern Ireland 66.8 hours. This lack of sunshine, combined with the mild temperatures and high rainfall, has created challenging conditions for many, particularly those in agricultural sectors and those affected by flooding.
The Met Office's data indicates a clear pattern of warming winters, with the top ten warmest winters for the UK all occurring since 1989. The average central England temperature for the winter of 2023-24 was 5.2°C, placing it among the warmest on record. This trend is consistent with projections of climate change, which suggest that the UK will experience warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.
Looking at regional breakdowns for the winter season (December-February), England recorded 384.8mm of rain, Wales 573.4mm, Scotland 522.0mm, and Northern Ireland 370.4mm. All regions saw significantly above-average rainfall, contributing to widespread saturated ground and increased flood risk throughout the period. The persistent mild temperatures, with minimal snowfall in many areas, further underscore the changing nature of the UK's winter climate.
While the meteorological winter has officially concluded, the implications of such a wet and mild period are far-reaching, from agricultural impacts to infrastructure strain. The Met Office continues to monitor conditions closely as the country transitions into spring, with forecasts indicating a continued likelihood of unsettled weather in the coming weeks.