Met Office forecasts 35°C as May Bank Holiday heatwave continues

The Met Office reported on Monday 25 May 2026 that an exceptional spell of warmth for May was continuing over the Bank Holiday weekend, with 35°C forecast for parts of England and the likelihood that the May and Spring UK temperature records would be broken¹. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat-health alerts for five regions of England, with yellow alerts for southwestern and northern England¹.

On Monday the highest temperature was expected in an area covering Lincolnshire, the Midlands, western parts of East Anglia and southwards into the London area, where 35°C was forecast; temperatures above 30°C were expected from southern parts of northern England southwards and westwards into eastern Wales¹. Tuesday was forecast to bring another very hot day, with a peak of 35°C again expected in London, the Home Counties and Cambridgeshire, and more widely above 30°C across eastern Wales and eastern, southern and central England away from immediate coastal areas¹. The Met Office gave highs of 31°C for Wednesday, 30°C on Thursday, 27°C on Friday and 28°C on Saturday¹.

An earlier Met Office forecast on Thursday 21 May had put the Monday peak at 33°C in southern England and the Midlands, with 30°C likely on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday². The all-time May temperature record stands at 32.8°C, set at Camden Square on 22 May 1922 and then at Horsham, Tunbridge Wells and Regent's Park on 29 May 1944¹. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steve Kocher said:

Heatwave thresholds, defined as three consecutive days at or above a set temperature that varies by UK county, had been reached in parts of the UK from Sunday and were expected to become more widespread across central and western England and into parts of Wales¹. The Met Office said the main driver was high pressure over and near the UK, causing sinking air that warms as it is compressed, rather than hot air arriving from southern Europe or North Africa¹. Sea surface temperatures ranged from 9°C around Scotland to 13°C around the south west of England¹.

Why it matters for households

The amber alerts warn that high temperatures over the coming days may put vulnerable people at increased risk, and remind health and social care services to prepare for further alerts over the summer¹. Dr Anya Gopfert, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, said even moderate heat can lead to serious health problems, especially for older people and those with certain health conditions, and that people should check on friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable¹. The heat-health alerts guide explains the yellow, amber and red levels, and the people at risk guide sets out who is most affected. Households can sign up for alerts through the heat-health alert signup guide, and the hot weather preparation checklist covers practical steps. The Met Office's definition of a heatwave explains the county thresholds, and its background on rising temperatures covers the warming trend.

The Met Office said sea surface temperatures are not as high as in mid-summer, and the Royal Life Saving Society UK warned that water remains dangerously cold even during a heatwave, with cold water shock a real danger¹. It urged people to choose lifeguarded locations, supervise children closely and, if someone is in trouble, to call 999 rather than enter the water¹. The Met Office said lifeguard rescues more than doubled last year according to the RNLI¹. The British Red Cross advised wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of fluids and taking breaks from the sun¹.

What happens next

The Met Office forecast the heat continuing through the week, with highs of 31°C on Wednesday, 30°C on Thursday, 27°C on Friday and 28°C on Saturday¹. It said heatwave conditions were expected to become more widespread as the week progressed¹. A Met Office climate attribution study published last summer found that breaking the 32.8°C May record is around three times more likely now than in a climate not affected by greenhouse gas emissions, turning what was around a 1-in-100 year event into around a 1-in-33 year event¹.