Climate change: May was sunniest calendar month on record in UK
May was the sunniest calendar month on record, and spring was the sunniest spring, the Met Office has said. The UK enjoyed 266 hours of sunshine in May - surpassing the previous record of 265 hours in June 1957. And it is even more extraordinary following a drenching winter, with record rain in February. Meteorologists say they are amazed at the sudden switch from extreme wet to extreme dry it is not "British" weather. On average the UK gets 436 hours of sunshine between March and the end of May. Since 1929, only 10 years have had more than 500 hours. And none has got more than 555 hours. Scientists say the recent weather in the UK has been unprecedented and astounding. This year we've bathed in an extraordinary 626 hours - smashing the previous record by a staggering amount, one Met Office worker said. It is because the jet stream has locked the fine weather in place, just as it locked the previous winter rainfall in place. Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, told BBC News: Weve swung from a really unsettled spell with weather systems coming in off the Atlantic to a very, very settled spell. Its unprecedented to see such a swing from one extreme to the other in such a short space of time. Thats what concerns me. We dont see these things normally happening with our seasons. Its part of a pattern where were experiencing increasingly extreme weather as the climate changes. Mark McCarthy, from the Met Office, said: If we look at the difference in rainfall thats fallen over the winter compared to spring it is the largest difference in rainfall amount in our national series from 1862. The sunshine statistics are really astounding. The stand out is by how much sunshine has broken the previous record - set in 1948. Theres been more sunshine than most of our past summer seasons. It's quite remarkable." One of his colleagues described the figures as "absolutely staggering". The Met Office says this year is not an indicator of the future, because the jet stream might behave differently. Scientists suspect man-made climate change may be implicated, but it is too soon to tell. Some of them believe the rapid man-made heating of the Arctic, which has led to record temperatures and wildfires in Siberia, may be influencing the jet stream, although that is not proven. Professor Joe Smith, chief executive of the Royal Geographical Society, told BBC News: "For many people, the recent long sunny spell is simply 'nice weather'. "In a wider context its a signal of the increasing unpredictability of the UKs climate. Planning for the growing season is starting to resemble a night at the gambling tables. The fact remains that bold early actions to slash emissions can still cut the larger risks associated with climate change in the UK and around the world. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin Climate woes grow amid wettest February on record Morocco rescuers dig with bare hands as foreign aid sent US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' A Serbian scientist's long quest to name Srebrenica's dead How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans. Video The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.