CLIMATE change could result in summer temperatures in mid Cheshire reaching almost 38C, according to a new data tool.

Created following research by The Met Office shows what weather conditions could be like in Cheshire and around the UK if steps aren't taken to reduce carbon emissions.

The climate projections study, carried out in partnership with The Environment Agency and other governmental bodies, shows the top ten warmest years for the UK since 1884 have occurred since 2002.

In terms of average temperatures, the last decade has been almost 1C warmer than the average temperature between 1961-1990.

The Met Office climate projections cover different levels of global warming. When, or if, these levels are reached will depend on the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

While some might welcome the news of milder winters and even warmer summers, the potential effects of such a shift in the earth's climate could have dramatic consequences.

According to further analysis by The Met Office and BBC, the hottest day recorded in the UK came in July 2019, with 38.7C measured in Cambridge, while here in mid Cheshire, the hottest temperature recorded in the last 30 years was 33.1C with this projected to rise by more than 4C if no action is taken.

The warmest winter day on record here in Cheshire was 18.2C, with predictions suggesting this could rise to almost 20C if we take no action to curb our CO2 omissions.

Human activity has increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and caused rising temperatures worldwide since the growth of industrialisation in the 19th Century.

If global average temperatures rise by 2C above pre-industrial levels, days at least as hot the 2019 record could be more frequent and widespread.

The average daytime temperature in the UK in summer currently ranges from about 14C in northern Scotland to 22C in southern England.

During the past 30 mid Cheshire summers there have been an average of two days per month were temperatures rose above 25C, but projections suggest this could rise to an average of 8 days per month if no action is taken.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) defines any day with a maximum temperature above 25C as a "summer day".

If emissions continue to increase and average global temperatures rise by 4C, summers will be even hotter.

Nearly a third of the UK could see average summer temperatures above 25C.

With rising summer temperatures, there is also predicted to be less rain fall, while welcome to many casual observers, again has the potential to cause damaging impacts to life.

In warmer winters the heaviest rains are likely to get more intense. If global average temperatures rise by 4C above pre-industrial levels, half the country could expect at least 20 per cent more rainfall on the wettest winter days.

Summer rains may also become heavier in many places, although total rainfall is expected to decline.

The current wettest day on record was on October 3 this year, when enough rain fell across all four nations to fill Loch Ness.