The UK has recorded its hottest day of 2026 so far, with temperatures reaching 34.8C at London's Kew Gardens, breaking the previous May record set in 1922 and 1944. The Met Office confirmed provisional readings of 33.5C at Heathrow Airport earlier on Monday, with widespread highs above 33C across the south-east, including 34C in Teddington, 33.6C in Benson, and 33.3C in Wisley.
Wales also provisionally broke its May temperature record, with Hawarden airport reaching 32.2C, surpassing the previous high of 30.6C in Newport in 1944. Scotland and Northern Ireland experienced their warmest days of the year, with temperatures of 25.5C and 24.6C respectively. Overnight temperatures on Sunday broke the UK's highest minimum temperature for May, with Kenley airfield recording a low of 19.4C.
The heat is expected to persist through the week, with forecasts of 35C on Tuesday, 31C on Wednesday, and 30C on Thursday. A large grass fire broke out in Holyrood Park near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, while about 500 properties in Sussex and Kent faced water supply issues due to increased demand.
Across Europe, eight areas were put on heatwave alert, with temperatures of up to 35C in Brittany, France, and 36-37C in southern France. Spain's state meteorological agency warned of 'extraordinarily high temperatures' continuing all week. The warm weather is expected to worsen illness and increase mortality rates, with amber heat health alerts issued in the UK indicating a possible risk to life.
Dr Chloe Brimicombe, a climate researcher at the University of Oxford, said: 'The record-breaking heat is a reminder of how climate change is impacting our lives in the UK. It highlights the urgency of recent calls for heat adaptation.' The UK's Climate Change Committee has recommended installing air conditioning in all care homes and hospitals within the next 10 years, and in all schools within 25 years, as well as setting maximum temperatures for indoor and outdoor work.
The Met Office attributed the warm spell to high pressure over the country, causing air to sink, compress, and heat. Gareth Redmond-King of the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit noted that cutting emissions to net zero is the only way to halt climate change, but added that adapting to the already warmed climate is essential to mitigate dangerous impacts.
