The United Kingdom is set to experience a surge in temperatures over the remainder of the bank holiday weekend, with forecasters warning of "exceptional heat" that could shatter records for the warmest May day and hottest bank holiday on record.
Saturday marked the hottest day of the year so far, as the village of Frittenden in Kent reached 30.5°C. This was the first time the UK has surpassed 30°C this year, a milestone last achieved in May 2012.
However, temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Sunday, with predictions of 31°C in the South East. Monday could see peaks between 33°C and 34°C, potentially breaking the current records for the hottest May day in the UK and England (32.8°C), the hottest May day in Wales (30.6°C), and the UK and England's hottest bank holiday (33.3°C).
Meanwhile, holidaymakers heading to Europe via the Port of Dover faced lengthy queues on Saturday. To alleviate delays, French authorities temporarily suspended extra EU border checks under the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires fingerprints and photographs from third-country nationals, including UK citizens, entering the Schengen Area. By late afternoon, the port reported that traffic was "free flowing" on its busiest day of the May half-term getaway.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said that Sunday would bring "plentiful amounts of sunshine for the vast majority" of people, though parts of the North West and Scotland could see damp conditions. Monday is expected to offer "wall-to-wall blue sunshine" across most regions, with temperatures reaching around 33°C in the far south-east of London and potentially 30°C in northern England, Wales, and the Midlands.
"If we hit that 33°C, maybe even locally close towards 34°C, that would bring us our hottest bank holiday day on record, as well as our hottest day in May on record, so it really is quite exceptional heat that is building for the time of year," Vautrey said.
In response to the heatwave, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, and the South East, effective until 5pm on Wednesday. These alerts indicate a likely rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, and increased demand on health and social care services. Yellow alerts, which signify possible significant impacts, have been issued for the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, and the South West.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns Lord's, announced that it has "decided to dispense with the requirement for gentlemen to wear jackets in the pavilion" for two Vitality Blast matches on Sunday, due to the heat.
