Recent analysis of UK temperature recordings has revealed concerning data quality issues, with nearly 90% of “extreme” daily temperature highs being recorded at weather stations classified as low-quality measurement sites. These locations, designated as Class 4 and Class 5 stations by World Meteorological Organisation standards, carry significant measurement uncertainties of up to 2°C and 5°C
respectively.
A nine-day examination of Met Office records ending May 18th showed particular weather stations repeatedly reporting regional temperature highs. The Scottish locations of Aboyne and Tyndrum registered area highs eight and seven times respectively, while Coton-in-the-Elms in England recorded seven daily highs and Kielder Castle six. These frequent recordings from the same locations raise questions about the representativeness of these measurements for their broader
geographical areas.
The Met Office’s network of over 380 weather stations has come under scrutiny, with 78% of stations falling into the lowest two quality categories. Even more troubling, some stations appear to be
misclassified. For instance, the Kirkwall weather station, listed as a pristine Class 2 site, is actually situated near an airport’s aircraft parking area, surrounded by buildings, roads, and other potential heat-influencing structures.
When excluding Kirkwall’s questionable classifications from
calculations, the percentage of daily highs recorded at junk-class sites rises to 87.4%. This raises serious concerns about the accuracy of temperature data being used to inform climate policy and public discourse.
Further investigation revealed that some stations producing these record highs are classified as “Unsatisfactory” by the Met Office’s own internal standards. Castlederg, which recorded five local highs in the nine-day period, appears on this list of 27 substandard sites. Similarly, Hawarden, a Class 4 airport location that holds Wales’ national temperature record from July 2021, is among these
questionable stations.
The implications of these findings extend beyond mere record-keeping. This data is frequently cited in mainstream media to support climate change narratives and Net Zero policies. For example, BBC reporting has used these measurements to claim dramatic increases in “extreme” high temperatures and “pleasant” days in the UK, suggesting a 40% rise in days around 20°C.
Citizen investigators have also raised concerns about specific locations. Ray Sanders’ examination of the Coton-in-the-Elms station, a Class 5 site in central England, concluded it was among the poorest quality locations in the network. Despite attempts to fact-check previous reporting on these issues, questions remain about the validity of using such compromised data for official temperature records.
The Met Office’s self-regulation of these standards has come under criticism, particularly given the continued use of data from stations they themselves have classified as unsatisfactory. The practice of recording national temperature records at sites with known quality issues, such as the Northern Ireland record of 31.3°C set at Castlederg in July 2021, raises serious questions about the
reliability of these measurements.
These findings suggest a urgent need for review of the UK’s
temperature monitoring network and the standards used to validate weather data, especially given its importance in shaping climate policy and public understanding of environmental changes.