England, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded their highest temperatures of 2026 on Sunday, with Kew Gardens in west London reaching 32.3C (90.1F). This marks the UK's hottest May day for at least 79 years, surpassing the previous record of 32.8C set in 1947.
Cardiff reached 27.4C, Armagh 23.4C, and Edinburgh 23.5C, just 0.1C below Scotland's May record. The first area to meet the heatwave threshold was Santon Downham in Suffolk, which recorded temperatures above 27C for three consecutive days. Other areas in heatwave conditions include Heathrow, Kew Gardens, Northolt, Benson, Brooms Barn, High Beach, and Writtle.
Temperatures could rise further on Monday, with possible highs of 33C to 34C. The Met Office spokesperson noted that breaking the May record is now around three times more likely due to climate change, turning a one-in-100-year event into a one-in-33-year event.
Saturday was the UK's first 30C day of the year, the earliest since 1952. Sunbathers flocked to beaches, and Lord's cricket ground relaxed its dress code. Drinks breaks were introduced at football matches, including the League One playoff final and Premier League games.
Three villages in Kent—Charing, Challock, and Molash—experienced water supply problems for a second day. South East Water apologised and said pumping station issues had caused the disruption.
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber heat alerts for several regions until Wednesday, warning of increased health risks for vulnerable individuals. Experts urged caution around open water, advising people to 'float to live' if in trouble and not to enter the water to rescue others.
