UK Marine Heatwave Escalates Into Second Year of Sustained Warming

Northwest European seas face extreme marine heatwave conditions next week, capping months of elevated temperatures stretching back through 2025. The Met Office logged sea surface temperatures 1.5–2°C above normal throughout 2025, with strong-category heatwave conditions widespread by June 2026. The pattern suggests a persistent warming regime rather than isolated seasonal fluctuation, though whether it extends beyond autumn remains unclear.