The UK has just experienced its hottest May day on record and could see more temperature records broken in the coming days as the heatwave continues across England and Wales
Further records may tumble on Tuesday following the UK’s hottest May day ever recorded. The nation also logged its provisional all-time highest meteorological spring temperature when Kew Gardens in south-west London reached 34.8C.
The Met Office identified 12 locations where the record was surpassed on Monday – spanning from Suffolk to Berkshire to Warwickshire – while 97 of its monitoring stations hit or exceeded 30C.
Prior to that day, the May temperature record stood at 32.8C, set in 1922 and 1944. Temperature records typically fall by mere tenths of a degree. Across vast areas of southern England and Wales on Tuesday, the anticipated peak is 35C – potentially climbing to 36C, according to senior Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell.
These predictions cover the Midlands, south-east and south-west England, East Anglia, and South Wales. Afternoon thunderstorms could develop, which will influence maximum temperatures.
“So it’s a trickier one to predict the temperatures for tomorrow, definitely potential for it to be hotter,” Ms Mitchell said.
Records might also fall beforehand, with forecasters cautioning that some locations may not dip below 20C overnight.
This follows the UK’s warmest May night recorded on Sunday when temperatures remained above 19.4C at Kenley Airfield, Surrey.
Numerous locations throughout England and Wales will satisfy the heatwave criteria on Tuesday, with some experiencing five consecutive days by Wednesday, Ms Mitchell said. By Sunday evening, heatwave criteria had already been satisfied across eight locations in England: Heathrow, Kew Gardens and Northolt in London; Benson in Oxfordshire; Brooms Barn and Santon Downham in Suffolk; High Beech and Writtle in Essex.
Ms Mitchell indicated that this figure will have increased following the bank holiday weather, though the data has not yet been published.
The fact that close to a hundred locations recorded 30C on Monday “goes to show just how many places would have succeeded their heatwave threshold”, she noted.
For conditions to be classified as a heatwave, temperatures must reach or exceed a particular threshold over three consecutive days.
The most elevated heatwave threshold in the UK during this period is 28C, which is applicable to London and areas north of the capital extending towards Cambridgeshire.
From midweek onwards, temperatures will begin to drop progressively, though conditions will remain predominantly dry with periods of sunshine.
Numerous areas will continue to see temperatures in the upper 20Cs. Nevertheless, eastern regions will experience a reduction of approximately 10C as a fresh easterly wind establishes itself.
Should it be confirmed, the latest May record indicates that seven of the 12 monthly temperature peaks have been established since 2003, according to the Met Office.
Earlier research conducted by the forecasters determined that surpassing that record “is around three times more likely now in our current climate than it would have been in a natural climate not impacted by greenhouse gas emissions”.
This signifies that what was formerly a one-in-a-hundred year occurrence has now become a one-in-33 event, it stated. This follows last week’s temperatures, which plummeted to minus 5C in Scotland, while daytime highs across the country generally reached around 14C to 15C.
“We see these changes happening so much more dramatically,” Met Office senior forecaster Greg Dewhurst said on Monday morning, adding that climate change is boosting the heat.
“In the past, heatwaves built and built and built and built over days and days and days – these now just develop so quickly.”
During the bank holiday weekend’s sweltering conditions, South East Water issued an apology and distributed bottled water after approximately 502 customers experienced difficulties, including supply interruptions and reduced pressure.
Meanwhile, fire and smoke spread across a large patch of Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, above St Anthony’s Chapel on Monday.
On Sunday, Lincolnshire Police confirmed that the body of 15-year-old Declan Sawyer had been retrieved from Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln, after reports emerged that afternoon of him being in difficulty in the water.
The May temperature record was broken at: Heathrow, Greater London (34.4C); Northolt, Greater London (34.2C); Teddington Bushy Park, Middlesex (34C); Benson, Oxfordshire (33.6C); Wisley, Surrey (33.3C); Reading University, Berkshire (33.2C); Wellesbourne, Warwickshire (33.2C); Cippenham, Berkshire (33.0C); Brize Norton, Oxfordshire (32.9C); Charlwood, Surrey (32.9C); Houghton Hall, Norfolk (32.9C) and Santon Downham, Suffolk (32.9C).
The record was equalled at Marham, Norfolk and Woburn, Bedfordshire. Wales also provisionally surpassed its May temperature record as Hawarden Airport registered 32.2C, eclipsing the previous high of 30.6C recorded in 1944.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its first amber health alert of 2026 on Friday, warning that there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services. The alert will remain in place until Wednesday.
The AA has cautioned that vehicle interiors can soar to 60C when external temperatures reach 27C.
The extreme heat poses particular dangers to vulnerable populations, including elderly people, whose bodies find it challenging to maintain proper temperature regulation.
Age UK has advised remaining indoors during the peak heat period, between 11am and 3pm, and taking frequent cold baths or showers.
