Unseasonal May Heatwave Set to Intensify Over Bank Holiday Weekend
The UK is currently experiencing an unusual spell of May heat that is forecast to intensify throughout the bank holiday weekend, meeting heatwave criteria in several locations.
Daytime temperatures are expected to reach the upper 20s Celsius across many regions, with the low 30s Celsius anticipated in the coming week.
On Friday, temperatures in London surpassed the official heatwave threshold of 28C (82.4F), marking the warmest day of the year so far.
Bank holiday Monday has the potential to become the hottest May day on record, with forecasts predicting temperatures approaching 33C in south-east England.
Amber heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for the Midlands, eastern, and south-east England.
Amber alerts indicate a risk of significant impacts on health and social care services, with children and individuals over 65 particularly vulnerable to adverse health effects.
The rest of England is under yellow heat health alerts, signaling that adverse weather is "likely to affect vulnerable groups."
Temperatures Expected to Rise Further on Saturday
This weekend, the highest temperatures are forecast across central and southern England and parts of Wales. Average highs for this time of year typically fall in the upper teens Celsius, but some areas may experience temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than usual.
Saturday is likely to bring another record warm day as temperatures continue to climb.
However, mist and low cloud lingering in the far west of south-west England, west Wales, and northern Scotland will keep temperatures lower in those areas.
Residents in the Northern Isles of Scotland should expect cooler conditions, with temperatures reaching only around 13C.
First Heatwaves of 2026 Expected to Be Declared on Sunday
It is probable that the first heatwaves of 2026 will be declared on Sunday, as several areas, including London, the south-east, and Cardiff, are expected to experience their third consecutive day above the heatwave threshold.
Locally, temperatures in the south Midlands and south-east England could reach 30C on Sunday, a relatively rare occurrence for May.
Days exceeding 30C, classified by the Met Office as "very hot" days, were once much less common.
According to the Met Office, the number of "very hot" days has more than tripled in the last decade compared to the 1961-1990 average.
The last time temperatures reached 30C in May was in 2012.
Meanwhile, cloud cover in southern Scotland and Northern Ireland is expected to clear, bringing sunnier conditions, although temperatures will be lower than in the south.
Bank Holiday Monday Could Set New UK May Temperature Record
Monday may become the hottest May day on record, with forecasts indicating temperatures could reach 33C in south-east England.
If temperatures surpass 32.8C, they will break the existing May temperature record set on the Late May Bank Holiday in 1944.
Visitors to the east coast of England should be aware of possible mist conditions.
By Tuesday, and continuing through Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have been relatively mild, are expected to rise. Glasgow could see temperatures in the low to mid-20s Celsius, with western Northern Ireland also approaching mid-20s.
The UK's weather is naturally variable, but this early season heat aligns with the long-term trend of rising temperatures driven by human-induced climate change.
"What's extraordinary about this heatwave is not only the level of heat but its duration. Temperatures may not return to the seasonal norm for close to a week."
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