Britons Spend Two Days a Year Talking About the Weather

Britons spend an average of 56.6 hours a year talking about the weather, new research from the Met Office reveals, which is equivalent to two days and nine hours.

The findings come as the UK experiences one of its warmest summers on record, with four widespread heatwaves so far in 2025.

The study found that 60 per cent of people use the weather as their go-to small talk topic, beating news at 34 per cent, family at 26 per cent and holidays at 24 per cent. Despite a reputation for reserve, nearly a third of people make small talk daily, and 98 per cent do so at least once a week.

Weather conversations are often a social glue. Around 43 per cent of respondents use it to start conversations, with 28 per cent discussing it daily. While 22 per cent genuinely enjoy talking about the weather, most see it as a simple way to connect with family, friends and colleagues.

The research also shows a strong interest in weather beyond conversation. Nearly eight in ten people check forecasts daily, and a fifth want to learn more about weather patterns and their wider impact, including on agriculture and construction. Respondents were less aware of the importance of weather forecasting for the defence sector, despite its crucial role in military operations.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said, “Weather has always helped bring people together. This research shows that talking about the weather is more than curiosity, it is a necessity. People are increasingly interested in how weather shapes lives, industries and national identity.”

The research coincides with the Met Office’s launch of the Smart Talk campaign, which highlights how weather intelligence shapes industries from aviation to energy, showing that weather matters far beyond everyday conversation. For Ireland, where the climate is famously changeable and can shift from sun to rain several times in a single day, conversations about the weather are almost guaranteed to exceed those of their British neighbours.