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Spring sun outshone all of NI's previous summers

Barra Best
BBC NI weather presenter
Pacemaker Sisters Jan Buchholz and Pam Sassella pictured sitting on the grass in the grounds of Belfast City Hall on 13 May 2025. They both have short, white hair and are wearing sunglasses and short-sleeved tops. They are sitting very close together and smiling at the camera on a bright, sunny day. Other people are sitting in groups behind them. Pacemaker
Lots of people enjoyed sunny days in Belfast throughout the fine spring weather

Northern Ireland has recorded its sunniest ever season as spring 2025 saw more hours of sunshine than any previous spring or even summer since records began.

A total of 614.3 hours of sun were recorded, which is 43% above normal.

It was also Northern Ireland's warmest spring on record, according to figures released by the Met Office.

The mean temperature was 9.8C, which is 1.6C above average, making it the warmest spring since temperature records began in 1893.

Meteorological spring refers to the three-month period from the start of March to the end of May.

The rise in temperature was felt throughout the season with May and April also ranking as Northern Ireland's third warmest April and May on record.

May 2025 was particularly bright, seeting a new sunshine record.

Meanwhile, March and April also saw well above average levels of sunshine.

Pacemaker Emma Moore, six-month old Bella and James O’Hare pictured enjoying a ice cream at Shaws Bridge in Belfast in early April. Emma has long, straight blonde hair and is wearing a purple t-shirt and sunglasses. James has dark short hair and a dark beard. He is wearing a blue GAA top. Bella has short, blonde hair and blue eyes and is wearing a white patterned baby grow. Pacemaker
It was warm enough for an ice-cream in early April for this family at Shaw's Bridge

Changing climate

Overall the season has been been much drier than normal with 72% of normal rainfall recorded.

Only April saw rain levels above what is normally seen.

According to the Met Office, the record-breaking conditions are attributed to persistent high pressure systems which dominated the weather from late February through most of May.

These systems blocked the usual Atlantic fronts, resulting in prolonged dry and sunny weather.

Scientists note that the frequency of such extreme conditions is increasing, with seven of the UK's 10 sunniest springs occurring since 2000, and three of the warmest springs since 2017.

"This spring shows some of the changes we are seeing in our weather patterns, with more extreme conditions, including prolonged dry, sunny weather, becoming more frequent," said Met Office scientist, Emily Carlisle.

"The data shows that recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th Century average, although natural variation will continue to play a role in the UK's weather."