The UK has recorded its highest ever May temperature for the second consecutive day, with thermometers hitting 35.1°C at Heathrow and Kew Gardens on Tuesday, the Met Office confirmed. This follows Monday's provisional record of 34.8°C at Kew Gardens, surpassing the previous May peak of 32.8°C set in 1922.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms across England on Tuesday, valid from 3pm to 10pm. Forecasters warned of isolated storms with lightning, hail and gusty winds affecting large parts of the country, from Bath and Reading to Lincoln and Sheffield, with up to 30mm of rainfall possible in an hour.
The UK Health Security Agency extended amber alerts for the south-west, south-east, London, East and West Midlands and the west of England until 5pm on Thursday, with yellow alerts for the north-west and north-east. The National Fire Chiefs Council issued a water safety warning following several deaths over the bank holiday weekend, including those of four teenagers and a man in his 60s who died attempting to save family members in Cornwall.
Monday night saw a 'tropical night' with temperatures not falling below 20°C; Kenley airfield in south London recorded an overnight low of 21.3°C. Many places across England and Wales reached the heatwave threshold (28°C for London and surrounding areas) on Tuesday, with some expected to have met the three-day criteria by Wednesday.
Dr Stephen Burt from the University of Reading noted a record temperature range this May, from a minimum of -0.1°C on 12 May to Tuesday's maximum, a range of 35.2°C. The previous highest monthly range was 32.8°C in May 1944. Professor Friederike Otto from Imperial College London said: 'This record-breaking heat has the fingerprints of climate change all over it. Temperatures on this scale were once exceptional even at the height of summer.'
Temperatures are forecast to decline from mid-week, but many areas are expected to remain largely dry with sunny spells.
