UK heatwave declared over weekend.
Temperatures neared May record highs.
Amber health alerts issued for England.
Atlas AI
The United Kingdom saw a heatwave over the recent bank holiday weekend as temperatures climbed toward May records, prompting amber heat health alerts across much of England. The Met Office said Heathrow recorded 28C for three consecutive days, meeting its criteria for declaring a heatwave in the area. Officials warned the hotter conditions could strain health and social care services through midweek.
A temperature of 30.5C was recorded in Frittenden, Kent, on Saturday, the highest of the year so far. Forecasters said highs of 31C were possible in the southeast on Sunday, with peaks of 33C to 34C possible on Monday. Those levels would set records for the hottest bank holiday day and the hottest May day, if reached.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts on Friday morning for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, and the Southeast. The alerts are set to run until Wednesday at 5 p.m. UKHSA said the designation signals a likely rise in deaths, particularly among people aged 65 and over or those with health conditions, and increased demand on health and social care services.
Forecasts point to potential record May temperatures
The Met Office said the heatwave threshold in London and surrounding counties is reached when temperatures hit or exceed 28C on at least three consecutive days. Heathrow’s three-day run at 28C met that benchmark, according to the weather service.
Forecasters said temperatures were expected to rise again as the holiday weekend continued, with the southeast most likely to see the highest readings. They cautioned that record outcomes would depend on local conditions and where the warmest air settles.
Met Office links higher odds of extremes to climate conditions
The Met Office said breaking the May temperature record of 32.8C is about three times more likely under current climate conditions than it would have been in natural climate conditions before the Industrial Revolution. It said what was previously roughly a one-in-100-year event is now estimated to occur about once every 33 years.
The Met Office said the pattern aligns with recent observations across Western Europe, where comparable heat peaks are becoming more frequent, arriving earlier in the year, and intensifying.
Officials said the amber alerts remain in effect through Wednesday, and health agencies urged extra caution for older people and those with existing medical conditions as the heat persists.
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