UK Records Hottest May Day at 34.8C, Surpassing 2019 August Bank Holiday Peak
The UK has provisionally recorded its highest ever May temperature, with Kew Gardens in London reaching 34.8C on Monday. This figure surpasses the 33.3C registered on the August bank holiday in 2019, previously the hottest bank holiday Monday on record.
Wales also set a new May temperature record, with Hawarden Airport in Flintshire recording 32.2C. The Met Office described the heat as “exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May,” anticipating further rises in the South and South East of England, potentially reaching 35C on Monday and Tuesday.
The weekend also saw the UK's warmest May night on record, with temperatures in London not dropping below 19.4C on Sunday. According to the Met Office, more than half of the UK's monthly record highs — seven out of 12 — have been established since 2003. This prolonged heat is attributed to “the influence of warmth building under an area of high pressure near the UK.”
The UK Health Security Agency issued its first amber-heat health alert of 2026 for much of England, with a yellow alert covering other regions, both remaining in place until Wednesday. Southern Water reported around 500 properties in Sussex and Kent experienced water supply issues due to “increased demand.”
The AA advised drivers to exercise caution on long journeys, warning that vehicle interiors could reach 60C, and urged against leaving children, vulnerable passengers, or pets in parked cars. Age UK recommended staying indoors between 11:00 and 15:00 and taking cool baths.
These extreme conditions are not isolated to the UK, with several European countries also breaking May heat records. Spain recorded 38C on Sunday, and temperatures across France, Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy have been 10 to 15C above average for late May, indicating a broader pattern of unseasonable heat across the continent.
