UK hottest May day on record: 34.8°C at Kew Gardens (provisional)

Record confirmed — 25 May 2026 (provisional): Kew Gardens has provisionally reached 34.8°C, exceeding the previous UK May temperature record of 32.8°C by a full 2°C — an extraordinary margin for a national record break. The Met Office noted this heat would be exceptional even in mid-summer. Heat continues into Tuesday, with further near-record temperatures possible across southern England.

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What's happening

A blocking high pressure system has anchored itself over the UK, dragging warm continental air north-westward across England and Wales. Temperatures have been climbing through the Bank Holiday weekend, and Monday 26 May is now the focal point.

• Saturday 24 May: 29–30°C across southern England
• Sunday 25 May: 31–32°C widely south of the Midlands
• Monday 26 May (Bank Holiday): 32–33°C in southern England and parts of the Midlands — the most likely day for a record

The existing UK May record stands at 32.8°C, set at Camden (London) on 29 May 1944. Any reading above that figure on Monday will be the highest May temperature ever recorded in this country.

Heat-health alerts

UKHSA has issued amber heat-health alerts for four English regions. Amber means significant impacts on health services are likely, particularly for older people, young children, and those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. If you're chasing this weekend, keep an eye on your own hydration — sustained 30°C+ air temperatures combine badly with physical exertion in the field.

Wildfire danger

The Natural Hazards Partnership has flagged heightened wildfire risk across London and southern England through the Bank Holiday and into half-term. Dry fuel loads after a warm, low-rainfall spring mean grass fires can spread rapidly. UV indices across England and Wales are expected to reach 6–7 — more typical of July than late May.

Scotland is already in a critical window: the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued extreme wildfire warnings across the whole of Scotland at the end of April, and the risk remains elevated on dry south-facing moorland.

What comes after

The heat is not expected to last much beyond the Bank Holiday. As Atlantic systems push eastward from mid-week, an unsettled period will follow — the sharp temperature contrast between the hot air mass and incoming cooler Atlantic air raises the potential for organised convection, possibly including thunderstorms with large hail and gusty winds across parts of England and Wales. We'll have a convective watch up if the setup looks worth targeting.

Records in context

For the record to fall, conditions need to align precisely: afternoon mixing, minimal cloud, and the warmest track staying over land. Even if 32.8°C is not surpassed, temperatures well above 30°C in late May remain exceptionally rare for the UK and represent a notable early-season heat event regardless of whether the record falls.