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The United Kingdom is currently experiencing an unusual spell of warm weather in May, which is expected to intensify over the upcoming bank holiday weekend. Temperatures throughout many regions are forecast to reach the upper 20s Celsius, with some areas potentially climbing into the low 30s as the week progresses. Notably, London recorded its warmest day so far this year on Friday, surpassing the official heatwave threshold of 28°C (82.4°F). There is even a possibility that bank holiday Monday could see temperatures nearing 33°C in the southeast, potentially making it the hottest May day on record.
Health agencies have responded by issuing amber heat health alerts for parts of the Midlands, eastern England, and the southeast. These alerts indicate a significant risk of health impacts on social care services, especially affecting vulnerable groups such as elderly individuals and children. Meanwhile, much of the rest of England remains under yellow alerts, warning that adverse weather conditions are likely to affect at-risk populations. This signals the need for caution as the heatwave conditions build across the country.
Over the weekend, central and southern England along with some areas in Wales are expected to experience the highest temperatures. Typically, average highs for this time of year are in the upper teens Celsius, but some locations could see temperatures up to 10 degrees above normal. Saturday is poised to be another notably warm day, potentially setting new records for the year. However, regions in the far west of southwest England, parts of west Wales, and northern Scotland will see cooler conditions due to lingering mist and low cloud cover. The Northern Isles in Scotland will remain on the cooler side, with temperatures only reaching around 13°C.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the first official heatwaves of 2026 are likely to be declared as several places, including London, the southeast, and Cardiff, may experience their third consecutive day above heatwave thresholds. It is uncommon for May to witness temperatures hitting 30°C or higher, but this weekend temperatures could reach that mark in parts of the south Midlands and southeast. According to the Met Office, days exceeding 30°C have become more frequent in recent years, having more than tripled compared to the 1961–1990 average. The last occurrence of 30°C in May was back in 2012. Although southern Scotland and Northern Ireland have seen cloudier conditions, clearer skies and sunshine are expected to return, although temperatures will remain cooler than in the south.
Monday stands out as a potential milestone day when the warm weather may break historic temperature records, with predictions suggesting 33°C in southeast England. This would surpass the previous highest May temperature of 32.8°C set in 1944. While the east coast could experience some morning mist, the warm trend will continue into early next week, with temperatures in Glasgow and western Northern Ireland expected to rise into the low to mid-20s Celsius by Tuesday through Thursday. This prolonged period of heat, unusual for this early in the season, aligns with broader patterns of rising temperatures influenced by human-driven climate change. What makes this heatwave particularly remarkable is not just its intensity but also its duration, as temperatures are unlikely to return to seasonal averages for nearly a week
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