The Met Office has declared a heatwave in multiple parts of England, with amber heat health alerts in force across the country. Temperatures are forecast to reach 35°C on Monday and Tuesday, potentially making this the hottest day of the year so far.
Health warnings indicate a 'significant' impact on health and social services, with a possible rise in deaths. The alerts remain in place until 5pm on 27 May. A Met Office spokesperson described the forecast as 'pretty historic', noting that temperatures above 35°C are rare even in summer.
Bank holiday Monday is expected to bring scorching conditions, with the southeast likely to see 35°C, while parts of northern England and Wales could reach around 30°C. Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said it is 'likely to be record-breaking', with London expected to hit 35°C, which would be the hottest May day on record.
A heatwave has been declared in eight locations in southeast England, where temperatures have exceeded 27°C for three consecutive days. On Sunday, Kew Gardens recorded 32.3°C, and parts of southeast England exceeded 30°C. Similar conditions are forecast for Tuesday, with overnight temperatures in the south possibly not falling below 19°C.
The Met Office warned that the heat could trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms by the afternoon in some areas, including Wales. 'In the south, temperatures once again will be in the low-to-mid thirties for some,' Mr Morgan added.
