Temperatures are set to soar above 30°C during the bank holiday weekend as Britons prepare for what forecasters predict will be the hottest days of the year. Parts of the United Kingdom could be hotter than popular Mediterranean holiday destinations, meteorologists have said, as a heatwave develops over the coming days.
Record-Breaking Heat Expected
The Met Office has forecast highs of 33°C in London on Monday, with similar temperatures possible in other parts of southern England. If confirmed, this would surpass the current May temperature record of 32.8°C, recorded in Camden Square, London, in 1922. Any reading above 29.4°C would mark the warmest May temperature in the UK since 2012.
The high temperatures are set to exceed those in Greek holiday hotspots such as Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini over the weekend.
London's Weekend Forecast
Here is the detailed forecast for London across the bank holiday period:
- Friday: A hot day with plenty of sunshine, staying a little cooler along the coast. Sunshine may turn hazy at times. A gentle breeze strengthens during the afternoon before easing by the evening. Maximum temperature 29°C.
- Friday night: Clouding over but remaining dry for most places, with the odd spot of rain possible across northern parts later in the night. Minimum temperature 14°C.
- Saturday: Any cloud and rain should clear during the morning to give a bright, sunny and hot day. Staying a little cooler along the coast. Maximum temperature 30°C.
- Sunday to Tuesday: Largely bright and sunny throughout and notably hot, a little cooler along the coast with an onshore flow. The wind generally remaining light throughout the period.
Heatwave Conditions Across the UK
Temperatures are expected to reach 28°C in parts of England on Friday before climbing above 30°C across several areas over the following three days, the Met Office said. A UK heatwave is officially recorded when an area experiences at least three consecutive days with temperatures meeting or exceeding the region’s heatwave threshold. Wales could also experience these conditions over the weekend, while the weather is expected to be milder in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The warmest day recorded in the UK so far this year was 26.6°C at Kew Gardens in south-west London in April.
Met Office Statement
The Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster, Greg Wolverson, said: “A very warm period of weather will develop through the weekend and into next week for much of the UK. High pressure will be in charge of the UK’s weather over the bank holiday weekend and this should bring fine and settled conditions to most areas. The exception will be parts of northwestern Scotland, where it will be cooler and cloudier with some rain at times. There is also a small risk of some thunder in the south late on Friday into Saturday.”
Health Alerts Issued
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow or amber heat health alerts covering every area of the country over the weekend and lasting into next week. The agency warned of “significant impacts” across health and social care services in areas covered by amber warnings, which include London, the Midlands, east of England and the South East.
How to Protect Your Health in Hot Weather
The UKHSA gives the following advice on keeping safe and healthy in hot weather:
- If you are going to do a physical activity (for example exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the early morning or the evening.
- Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun.
- Drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake.
- Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you.
- Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them.
- Try to avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11am and 3pm when UV levels are highest.
- If you are going out during this time, cover up with suitable clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen liberally and reapply frequently.
