2014 hottest year on record – ahem, apart from August

According to the Met Office, the UK’s mean temperature from 1 January to 25 November was 1.6 degrees Celsius above the long term average, making 2014 the warmest year in records dating back to 1910.

Above average temperatures have been experienced in many countries in north and eastern Europe too.

Peter Stott, Head of Climate Attribution at the Met Office, said: “Our research shows current global average temperatures are highly unlikely in a world without human influence on the climate. Human influence has also made breaking the current UK temperature record about ten times more likely.”

But no single month this year has seen a UK temperature record. Instead, the year has been consistently warm – except for August, that is.

Rain stops play at the Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester during England’s fourth test against India on 8 August.

Waves crash against the sea wall in Newhaven as the remains of Hurricane Bertha hit the UK on 10 August.

Bank holiday weather? Rain lashes down in Broadstairs on 25 August.

While in west London the show goes on at the Notting Hill Carnival, despite the wet weather.