The UK recorded its hottest May day, with Kew Gardens reaching a provisional 34.8C as heat alerts remain in place across England.
The UK recorded its hottest May day on Monday, with temperatures reaching a provisional 34.8C at Kew Gardens in south-west London, the Met Office said.
The reading passed the previous May record and also exceeded the hottest bank holiday Monday previously recorded in the UK, 33.3C on the August bank holiday in 2019. It came after the UK recorded its warmest May night on Sunday, when temperatures reached 19.4C in London.
Forecasters warned the heat could intensify further Tuesday, with temperatures possibly reaching 35C in parts of England. The unusually high temperatures have already triggered health warnings, disrupted some water supplies and forced changes to bank holiday events.
“This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May,” the Met Office said.
Wales also recorded its hottest May day, reaching 32.2C at Hawarden Airport in Flintshire. Scotland and Northern Ireland posted their highest temperatures of 2026 so far on Monday, with 25.5C at Charterhall and 25.8C at Derrylin in County Fermanagh, respectively.
The UK Health Security Agency issued its first amber heat-health alert of 2026 on Friday for much of England, including the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East and London. Yellow alerts are in place for the North East, North West, South West, Yorkshire and Humber. Both alert levels are due to remain in force until 17:00 BST Wednesday.
Met Office chief operational meteorologist Dan Suri said the temperatures were caused by “the influence of warmth building under an area of high pressure near the UK.” The average temperature for the end of May is 14C to 20C.
The heat had immediate effects beyond the weather records. Around 500 properties in Sussex and Kent were left without water or had intermittent supply Monday afternoon because of increased demand, according to South East Water, which said it was working to resolve the disruption. Some bank holiday events were cancelled or altered, including a Surrey donkey derby that removed the donkeys and a dog show from its programme for animal welfare reasons.
Authorities and charities urged caution during the hot spell. The AA warned drivers not to leave children, vulnerable passengers or pets inside parked vehicles, saying car interiors could reach 60C in direct sun. Age UK advised older people to stay indoors between 11:00 and 15:00 and to use cold baths or showers to cool down.
Forecasters said thunderstorms could develop in parts of England on Tuesday evening. Temperatures are expected to reach 30C on Wednesday and Thursday in England and Wales before easing into the high 20s on Friday.
The heat is part of a wider European spell of unusually high temperatures, with several countries reporting May records in recent days. Spain reached 38C on Sunday, while parts of France and Germany climbed into the mid-30s.
The Met Office’s State of the UK Climate report has found that the number of UK days above 28C has more than doubled, and days above 30C have more than trebled, in the most recent decade compared with the 1961-1990 average. More local records could fall if the current hot spell continues as forecast.
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