Mild Start to November Breaks Temperature Records in the UK
The beginning of November 2025 has seen an unusual number of new daily minimum temperature records across the UK, with many weather stations reporting notably warm nights. This streak of warm overnight temperatures follows an October that was already warmer than usual.
October Set the Stage for November’s Warmth
The UK experienced a mean temperature in October 2025 that was provisionally 0.7°C above the 1991–2020 average. Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded slightly higher temperatures compared to other regions, creating favorable conditions for November's warmth.
Warm Southerly Air and Cloud Cover Cause Record Minimums
At the start of November, warm air flowing north from the south combined with cloudy skies to trap heat overnight. This caused daily minimum temperatures—defined as the lowest temperature measured over a 24-hour period between 09:00 UTC and 09:00 UTC the next day—to rise to extraordinary levels.
Bonfire Night 2025 Sets New Record
“Temperatures overnight only dropped to 14.4℃ at Teddington in London, provisionally making it the mildest Bonfire Night on record.”
The previous record for the night of November 5th–6th was 13.9℃ at Gordon Castle, Scotland, in 1938.
Understanding Daily Minimum Temperatures
The daily minimum temperature is usually recorded in the early morning hours but is officially assigned to the end date of the 24-hour period it covers.
Author's summary: A warm October laid the groundwork for November 2025’s record-breaking mild nights in the UK, highlighted by an unprecedentedly warm Bonfire Night.