The UK's hottest years

Since 1659 the so-called Central England Temperature (CET) record has been kept, representing a triangle of land enclosing Bristol, Lancashire and London. It is the longest available instrument-measured record of temperature in the world.

2006 is the hottest year on record, some 1·37°C warmer than the 1961-1990 average temperature!

Of the 10 warmest years, all except the fourth hottest (1949) occurred in the past 18 years. Experts expect 2007 to break all records. Here is a table of the hottest years:

Year	Average Temperature (°C)	Above 1961-1990 Average (°C)
2006	10·84	+1·37
1999	10·63	+1·16
1990	10·63	+1·16
1949	10·62	+1·15
2002	10·60	+1·13
1997	10·53	+1·06
1995	10·52	+1·05
2003	10·50	+1·03
1989	10·50	+1·03
2004	10·48	+1·01

Source: Central England Temperature Record, Met Office.

[Related topic: averages]