May heat records could be broken by nearly 3C, hitting 35C this bank holiday, just a day after the UK recorded the month's highest temperature in at least 79 years. Temperature records are usually broken by tenths of a degree, not several degrees.
Sunday brought a record-breaking high of 32.3C at Kew Gardens, south-west London, and the warmest May night since 1944. Yet parts of the south and south-east could reach 34C or 35C on Monday and Tuesday as the heatwave continues.
Last week, there were lows of minus 5C in Scotland and daytime temperatures more widely peaked at about 14C to 15C. Senior Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'We see these changes happening so much more dramatically,' adding that climate change is boosting the heat. 'In the past, heatwaves built and built and built over days and days and days – these now just develop so quickly. It's huge sort of swinging temperatures, and obviously records being broken by day and by night, so it just shows how extreme the weather can change, and how quickly it can change as well.'
Heatwave Conditions Widespread
As a result of climate change, all meteorological models predict 'more extreme heat, more extreme weather events' and 'hotter, drier summers – wetter, windier winters,' he added. The Met Office confirmed that heatwave conditions were met in eight parts of England on Sunday: Heathrow (Greater London), Benson (Oxfordshire), Brooms Barn (Suffolk), High Beech (Essex), Kew Gardens (London), Northolt (London), Santon Downham (Suffolk), and Writtle (Essex). Wales and Northern Ireland also reached 2026 record temperatures of 27.4C in Cardiff and 23.4C in Armagh on Sunday.
The UK's warmest May night was recorded on Sunday when temperatures did not fall below 19.4C at Kenley Airfield, Surrey. The previous record was 18.9C in 1944.
Forecast for the Coming Days
The heat is closer to what would be expected in late June and into July, Mr Dewhurst added. Most of the UK is expected to have very hot, unbroken sunshine during the bank holiday. Temperatures will widely reach the high 20s and low 30s Celsius, followed by a warm night. The highest temperatures are expected in parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, London, and Bristol.
Clouds are forecast in north-west Scotland but they will be cleared by outbreaks of rain, and some will drift across Northern Ireland and southern Scotland. Tuesday might be cooler along England's north-east coast, but it will be hot again for most. Northern Ireland and Scotland will have sunny spells too, with temperatures potentially reaching 26C to 27C. The day's heat could spark some thunderstorms in parts of England on Tuesday evening.
Temperatures will start to gradually decline from the middle of the week, but it will still be largely dry with sunny spells. Highs on Wednesday and Thursday in England and Wales are predicted to be about 30C to 31C, dipping to about 29C to 30C on Friday. There is a risk of a few showers at the end of each day from Wednesday onwards, but most areas will be dry.
Health Alert Issued
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its first amber health alert of 2026 on Friday, warning that there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services. The alert will remain in place until Wednesday. The heat is considered dangerous for some vulnerable groups, including older adults, as their bodies struggle to regulate temperature. Age UK recommended staying inside during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 3pm, and having regular cold baths or showers.
