The United Kingdom experienced its hottest May day on record on Monday, with temperatures reaching 34.8C at London's Kew Gardens, according to provisional data from the Met Office. The previous record of 33.5C, set in 1922 and matched in 1944, was broken earlier in the day at Heathrow Airport, where 33.5C was recorded. Highs above 33C were widespread across the south-east, including 34C in Teddington, Middlesex, 33.6C in Benson, Oxfordshire, and 33.3C in Wisley, Surrey.
Wales also provisionally broke its May temperature record, with Hawarden Airport near the English border reaching 32.2C, surpassing the previous high of 30.6C set in Newport in 1944. Scotland and Northern Ireland saw their warmest days of the year so far at 25.5C and 24.6C respectively. The heat is expected to persist, with a potential 35C peak on Tuesday, followed by highs of 31C on Wednesday and 30C on Thursday.
The extreme weather has had immediate impacts, including a large grass fire in Holyrood Park near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh on Monday evening. About 500 properties in Sussex and Kent experienced water supply issues due to increased demand. Overnight temperatures on Sunday also broke the UK's highest minimum temperature for May, with Kenley airfield recording a low of 19.4C.
Scientists have linked the record-breaking heat to climate change. Dr Chloe Brimicombe, a climate researcher at the University of Oxford, said: 'The record-breaking heat is a reminder of how climate change is impacting our lives in the UK. It highlights the urgency of recent calls for heat adaptation.' Amber heat health alerts were issued on Friday, indicating a possible risk to life, particularly for the elderly, pregnant, or ill.
The UK's Climate Change Committee has recommended installing air conditioning in all care homes and hospitals within the next 10 years and in all schools within 25 years, as well as setting maximum temperatures for working indoors and outdoors. Gareth Redmond-King of the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit warned that more extreme heat is expected this year if El Niño combines with climate change to break further records.
