The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended an amber health warning for several regions in England by 24 hours, as temperatures are forecast to reach 35C on Tuesday, potentially making it the hottest May day on record. The warning now remains in place until 5pm on Thursday for the south-west, south-east, London, East and West Midlands, and the west of England. Yellow alerts continue for the north-west and north-east.
The Met Office has issued thunderstorm warnings for parts of the south-west, West Midlands, East Midlands, and east of England between 3pm and 10pm on Tuesday, which could reduce the heat. Isolated thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and gusty winds are expected, along with up to 30mm of rain in less than an hour.
Monday saw the UK record its hottest May day since Met Office data began, with Kew Gardens in south-west London reaching 34.8C. This provisionally broke the all-time May peak of 32.8C set in 1922 and 1944. Twelve locations broke records, and 97 monitoring sites reached or surpassed 30C. The UK also experienced a 'tropical night' on Monday, with temperatures not falling below 21.3C at Kenley airfield in south London, breaking the record for the highest daily minimum temperature in May for the second consecutive day.
Firefighters tackled a grass fire near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh as temperatures hit 25C, and a 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in a West Yorkshire reservoir. The Met Office warned that heatwaves are developing more quickly due to the climate crisis. Temperatures are expected to gradually decline from midweek but remain in the high 20s with dry, sunny spells.
