The UK has recorded its hottest May day on record after temperatures climbed to 34.8°C in west London as an early-season heatwave gripped much of the country.
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The provisional reading was recorded at Kew Gardens on Monday, according to the Met Office. It also exceeded the previous record for the hottest bank holiday Monday, which stood at 33.3C during the August bank holiday in 2019.
Forecasters said temperatures could rise even higher on Tuesday, with some parts of England expected to approach 35C.
Record temperatures across UK
Wales also set a new May temperature record, with Hawarden Airport in Flintshire reaching 32.2C. Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded their warmest days of the year so far, with highs of 25.5°C at Charterhall and 24.6°C at Hillsborough, respectively.
The Met Office described the conditions as unusually intense for this time of year.
“This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May,” the agency said.
The UK also experienced its warmest May night on record on Sunday, when temperatures in London remained as high as 19.4C overnight.
According to the Met Office, more than half of the UK’s monthly temperature records have now been set since 2003, reflecting a broader rise in extreme heat events.
Chief operational meteorologist Dan Suri said the current spell had been caused by warm air building beneath a high-pressure system near the UK. Typical temperatures for late May range between 14C and 20C.
Health alerts and disruption
The UK Health Security Agency issued its first amber heat-health alert of 2026 on Friday, covering London, the South East, the East Midlands, the West Midlands and eastern England. Yellow alerts were issued for several other English regions, with all warnings remaining in place until Wednesday evening.
The hot weather caused disruption in parts of southern England, where around 500 properties in Sussex and Kent lost water supplies or experienced interruptions because of increased demand.
Water company South East Water apologised and said crews were working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.
Several outdoor events were either cancelled or altered because of the heat. In Surrey, organisers of the Leatherhead Lions Club donkey derby removed the donkey races and dog show from the programme over concerns for animal welfare.
Elsewhere, thousands of spectators attended the annual cheese-rolling competition at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire despite the high temperatures. German YouTuber Tom Kopke, known online as Tooleko, won the first race ahead of local competitor Chris Anderson.
Warnings as heat continues
Forecasters said thunderstorms could develop in parts of England on Tuesday evening as the heat persists.
Temperatures are expected to remain around 30C across England and Wales through Thursday before easing slightly later in the week.
Heatwave conditions were officially recorded in eight areas of England on Sunday, including Heathrow, Kew Gardens and Northolt in London, as well as locations in Suffolk, Essex and Oxfordshire.
The AA urged motorists to take precautions during the hot spell, warning that temperatures inside parked vehicles could reach 60C.
It said children, vulnerable passengers and pets should never be left unattended in cars, even briefly.
Age UK advised older people to avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day and recommended cold showers and baths to stay cool.
Climate and European heatwave
Scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood and intensity of extreme heat events.
The Met Office’s State of the UK Climate report found the number of days above 28C has more than doubled compared with the 1961–1990 average, while days above 30C have more than tripled over the past decade.
The heatwave has extended across much of Europe. Spain recorded temperatures of 38C on Sunday, while France, Germany, Switzerland and northern Italy also experienced temperatures far above seasonal averages, with multiple local May records broken.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 26 May 2026
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