Britain has enjoyed its second sunniest year since records began with 1575 hours of sunshine - as forecasters say climate change will make long hot summers more likely in the future.
The figure means 2018 beats the 1566 hours clocked in 1995 - although the last week of December looks unlikely to provide enough rays to overhaul 2003's record of 1587 hours.
A sustained spell of high pressure made May the brightest ever, with 246 hours of sunshine, and this system continued through the long days of June and July, contributing significantly to the annual total.
The sun rises over Arne in Dorset this morning as the news emerged that 2018 will be the second sunniest on record
By contrast, December has been the dullest month – with only 34 hours of sunshine so far.
The UK mean temperature in 2018 will be somewhere between 9.4 and 9.5 °C.
The last few days of December will make all the difference between 2018 finishing just inside or just outside the top ten warmest years on record.
If 2018 does make it in to the top ten, it will mean that every one of the hottest ten years will have been in this century.
The Met Office told MailOnline it was impossible to attribute one weather event to global warming, but that the phenomena was likely to make similar summer heatwaves more likely in the future.
The hottest month of 2018 was July, with an average temperature of 17.3 °C, with February coldest at an average 2.4 °C.
The map on the left shows sunshine duration in 2018 compared to the average for 1981 to 2010. The one on the right details the difference between average temperatures in 2018 compared to the same time period
A sustained spell of high pressure made May the brightest ever, with 246 hours of sunshine. Pictured is the sun rising this morning over Shipstal Beach at Arne in Dorset
Although it has been a drier than average year, it has not been exceptionally dry overall, with the UK receiving close to 90% of average annual rainfall.
Winter and spring were somewhat wetter than average, but were followed by an extended summer dry spell.
The rainfall amount in 2018 compared to the average for 1981 to 2010
June was the driest month, with an average of 35mm falling across the UK – but parts of southern England were particularly dry, experiencing the lowest rainfall for over 100 years.
January was the wettest, with 134mm of rain.
Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: 'The last week of December will be of significant interest to us in finding out where 2018 ranks in terms of historic average annual temperatures.
'We experienced some memorable extremes of hot and cold weather this year – the summer heatwave contrasted sharply with the freezing conditions during the so-called 'Beast from the East' in February and March.
'However, even if the last few days of December are cool enough to keep 2018 out of the all-time hottest top 10, the overall story for the year fits into the general warming trend we have seen in the century so far.'
Sunshine records for Britain date back to 1929.
A new Beast from the East could be on the way: Met Office warns of snow and an icy blast in January thanks to a 'Sudden Stratospheric Warming'
Britain could face another Beast from the East early next year amid fears of heavy snow in the next few weeks.
Met Office forecasters have warned of an increasing chance that temperatures will turn colder than average as the UK moves into the New Year thanks to an atmospheric event known as Sudden Stratospheric Warming.
This is where the temperature suddenly rises high up in the stratosphere, between six and 30 miles above the North Pole, and it can result in a chain reaction that leads to very cold conditions from eastern Europe and Russia.
Joggers make an early start this morning and enjoy the scenery at Arne Nature Reserve near Wareham in Dorset
The sun rises on a misty morning from Shipstal Beach at Arne in Dorset today as the UK has above-average temperatures
The Red Rose 30120 steams through Corfe Castle on a bright sunny morning in Dorset today amid a chilly start to the day
Early morning mist in the Dorset town of Bridport today, on a morning after fog were issued in the South West of England
Beautiful red mist hangs over Bridport in Dorset today as parts of England continue to enjoy above-average temperatures
The same thing happened early this year which led to the UK's coldest spell of weather since 2013 when the Beast from the East forced hundreds of schools to close, disruption transport services and left motorists stranded.
Met Office forecaster Nicky Maxey told MailOnline today: 'At the moment there is a Sudden Stratospheric Warming taking place. The effects of that are felt some time after because it's happening high in the atmosphere.
'So it takes at least two weeks for that to be felt at ground level, but at the moment it's far too early to say what the effects might be.
'In the past they have been responsible for the Beast from the East and the cold and the snow.
'But that doesn't necessarily mean that's what will happen. We may have many few effects or we may see something more dramatic - we may have cold weather with no snow - it's just a little bit too early to say.'
Last week, Met Office modelling climate variability manager Jeff Knight had warned of 'a very high likelihood of an SSW happening', adding that it would increase the chances of colder-than-average weather in January.
In terms of snowy conditions next few weeks, the Met Office only expects some hill snow in northern areas next week, before snow to lower levels is also possible throughout the rest of January.
Before then, Britain continues to experience above average temperatures. The conditions are being caused by an area of high pressure over France, bringing mild but cloudy weather northwards to Britain.
The mercury in central and southern England is set to reach a maximum of 12C (54F) in southern areas today and tomorrow, and 13C (55F) on Sunday, before falling back to 10C (50F) on New Year's Eve.
Further north, between 10C and 12C (50-54F) is expected. The normal average daily maximum temperature for the end of December is just 6C (43F).
Sudden Stratospheric Warming sees the temperature suddenly rise in the stratosphere, six to 30 miles above the North Pole
The mercury in central and southern England is set to reach a maximum of 12C (54F) in southern areas today and tomorrow (shown is Dorset today), and 13C (55F) on Sunday, before falling back to 10C (50F) on New Year's Eve
Has the summer heatwave sparked off early blooms?
This year's heatwave has resulted in plants blooming earlier than ever before, it has been claimed.
One tree, a 20ft golden mimosa in Bournemouth, Dorset, has flowered two months earlier than usual with locals putting it down to the baking hot summer.
The mimosa, Latin name Acacia Baileyana, usually shoots its vibrant yellow flowers in February but was out in time for Christmas this year.
This 20ft golden mimosa in Bournemouth, Dorset, pictured this week, has flowered two months earlier than usual with locals putting it down to the baking hot summer
The colourful tree is native to Australia and southeast Asia meaning it thrives in warm, dry conditions.
The whopper is planted outside a block of residential flats, where residents say they have never seen it so early.
One lady, who did not wish to be named, said: 'It's a mimosa tree and from my experience living here, we'd expect to see it around February.
'Of course we had a very hot summer and that would be my guess as to why it's flowering now.
'We've never seen it in December before but it does look lovely out there.'
Temperatures throughout the year have been consistently high with a peak of around 35C in July.
This month has also been above average for December with highs of 13C expected over the weekend - the normal level being around 6C.
The last few days of the month will make all the difference between 2018 finishing just inside or just outside the top ten warmest on record. Pictured: Woods in Arne, Dorset, this morning
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/29/britain-enjoys-its-second-sunniest-year-since-records-began/
Main photo article Britain has enjoyed its second sunniest year since records began with 1575 hours of sunshine – as forecasters say climate change will make long hot summers more likely in the future.
The figure means 2018 beats the 1566 hours clocked in 1995 – although the last week of December looks...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/28/12/7896880-6535379-image-m-26_1545998623900.jpg
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