Home / Environment / UK Records Hottest May Day Ever: 34.8C Scorcher
UK Records Hottest May Day Ever: 34.8C Scorcher
25 May
Summary
- Britain saw its hottest May day on record with temperatures reaching 34.8C.
- The unseasonably sweltering bank holiday conditions exceeded previous records.
- Heat health alerts are in place due to potential impacts on services and health.
Britain has officially recorded its hottest May day ever, with temperatures reaching a searing 34.8C on Monday. This remarkable heatwave surpassed previous records by a significant margin, with Kew Gardens in southwest London registering the highest temperature. The scorching conditions also set a new record for the hottest bank holiday.
Unprecedented for this time of year, the Met Office noted that records are rarely broken by such large increments. Highs of 33.5C were recorded earlier in Heathrow, west London, already exceeding the 1944 May record. Similar temperatures were observed across various parts of England and Wales.
Amidst the heat, South East Water issued an apology and provided bottled water to customers experiencing outages or low pressure. A heatwave was officially declared in eight locations in southeast England, meeting the threshold of 27C for three consecutive days.
The warm weather is expected to continue into Tuesday, with temperatures potentially reaching 35C again in London and nearby counties. Amber heat health alerts are active until May 27, cautioning about potential strains on health and social care services and an increased risk of mortality.
