The United Kingdom experienced its second consecutive record-breaking warm May night on Monday, with temperatures not falling below 21.3C at Kenley Airfield in south London, according to the Met Office. This follows Sunday's record when the lowest temperature was 19.4C at the same location.
On Monday, the UK also recorded its provisional hottest meteorological spring temperature, with Kew Gardens in south-west London reaching 34.8C. The Met Office listed 12 locations where the May night record was topped, including sites in Suffolk, Berkshire, and Warwickshire, while 97 monitoring stations reached or exceeded 30C.
The heatwave is expected to continue on Tuesday, with forecasts of up to 35C across large parts of southern England and Wales, potentially reaching 36C. However, afternoon thunderstorms could affect temperatures. Heatwave conditions have already been met in eight areas, including Heathrow, Kew Gardens, and parts of Essex and Suffolk.
According to the Met Office, the current heatwave is made more likely by climate change, with a study indicating that such a May record is now three times more likely than in a climate without greenhouse gas emissions. Temperatures are expected to gradually decline from midweek, with eastern areas cooling by around 10C due to a brisk easterly wind.
Amid the heat, firefighters tackled a grass fire near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, and a 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in a West Yorkshire reservoir. The AA warned that vehicle interiors can reach 60C when outside temperatures are 27C, and Age UK advised vulnerable groups to stay indoors between 11am and 3pm.
