In the UK and Ireland: Record-high sea surface temperatures

Sea surface temperatures off the northeast coast of England and to the west of Ireland were recorded to be 3 to 4°C above normal.

The eastern Atlantic from around Iceland down to the tropics has been much warmer than average. Particular focus is on north-west Europe, including parts of the UK and Ireland that have seen exceptionally high sea-surface temperatures.

May 2023 has seen the highest temperatures of any May since 1850, approximately 1.6°C above average.

Meanwhile, globally, sea surface temperatures in April and May were the warmest on record since 1850 too.

Global air temperatures have also been well-above average for June 2023, with the world experiencing its hottest ever first 11 days of June, 1.5°C above average.

The UK has also provisionally just seen its hottest June on record, since records began in 1884.