Hottest May day ever as London hits 34.8C in 2C leap from previous records

The provisional reading at Kew Gardens, south-west London, is also the highest May temperature.

The UK has recorded its all-time hottest meteorological spring temperature as part of London hit 34.8C.

The provisional reading at Kew Gardens, south-west London, broke the highest May temperature that, until Monday, stood at 32.8C reached in 1922 and 1944, the Met Office said at around 5pm.

Temperature records are usually broken by just tenths of a degree.

It is also 10C to 15C hotter than average for much of the UK, the forecasters’ senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst reported.

If validated, the latest record means seven of the 12 monthly highs have been set since 2003, the Met Office said.

It listed 12 locations where the record was topped on Monday, ranging from Suffolk to Berkshire to Warwickshire.

A previous study by the forecasters found breaking that record “is around three times more likely now in our current climate than it would have been in a natural climate not impacted by greenhouse gas emissions.”

This means that the once one-in-a-hundred year event is now a one-in-33 event, it said.

Parts of central and southern England face further forecasts of 33C or 35C heat on Tuesday as heatwaves continue.

It comes after last week saw lows of minus 5C in Scotland and daytime temperatures more widely peaked at about 14C to 15C.

“We see these changes happening so much more dramatically,” Mr Dewhurst said on Monday morning, adding that climate change is boosting the heat.

“In the past, heatwaves built and built and built and built over days and days and days – these now just develop so quickly.

“It’s huge sort of swinging temperatures, and obviously records being broken by day and by night, so it just shows sort of how extreme the weather can change, and how quickly it can change, as well.”

As a result of climate change, all meteorological models are predicting “more extreme heat, more extreme weather events” and “hotter, drier summers – wetter, windier winters”, he added.

Amid the bank holiday weekend heat, South East Water apologised and handed out bottled water after about 502 of its customers had issues including outages and low pressure.

The UK’s warmest May night was also recorded on Sunday when temperatures did not fall below 19.4C at Kenley Airfield, Surrey.

The month’s previous record low was 18.9C in 1944.

The May high record was surpassed in: Heathrow, Greater London (34.4C); Northolt, Greater London (34.2C); Teddington Bushy Park, Middlesex (34C); Benson, Oxfordshire (33.6C); Wisley, Surrey (33.3C); Reading University, Berkshire (33.2C); Wellesbourne, Warwickshire (33.2C); Cippenham, Berkshire (33.0C); Brize Norton, Oxfordshire (32.9C); Charlwood, Surrey (32.9C); Houghton Hall, Norfolk (32.9C) and Santon Downham, Suffolk (32.9C).

It was matched at Marham, Norfolk and Woburn, Bedfordshire.

Announcing the Kew reading, the Met Office said: “This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May.”

Tuesday might bring some showers to eastern Scotland but it will be hot again for most.

The day’s heat may spark a few thunderstorms in some parts of England on Tuesday evening.

Temperatures will start to gradually decline from the middle of the week but it will still be largely dry with sunny spells.

The affected South East Water customers were in Kent and Sussex, and the company’s incident manager, Steve Benton, said: “We know water supply issues during hot weather are deeply frustrating and incredibly inconvenient, and we are working as quickly and safely as possible to resolve them.”

He added: “As a result of the recent hot weather, we’re seeing increased demand across our network and we’re having to pump far more drinking water than usual.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its first amber health alert of 2026 on Friday, warning that there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services. The alert will remain in place until Wednesday.

Meanwhile the AA warned that the interior of vehicles can reach 60C on a day when the outside temperature is 27C.

The breakdown service suggested bank holiday motorists should rest about every two hours, avoiding travelling over the hottest times of day and ensure water and snacks are packed.

“Drivers should never leave children, vulnerable passengers or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short time,” it said.

Hot weather increases the risk of blowing damaged or incorrectly inflated tyres and coolant systems can come under strain, the AA added, as it recommended drivers check both.

The heat is considered to be dangerous for some vulnerable groups including older adults as their bodies struggle to regulate temperature.

Age UK recommended staying inside during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 3pm, and having regular cold baths or showers.