Summary

  • It is provisionally the UK's hottest May day in 79 years as temperatures soar to 32C in Heathrow

  • Heatwave conditions have been met in eight parts of England, the Met Office tells the BBC

  • Santon Downham in Suffolk was the first location to meet the criteria at around 11:30 BST - here's the full list

  • Conditions for a heatwave differ depending on where you are in the UK - here's why

  • From paddleboarders to pooches sheltering from the sun, you've been sharing your snaps with us

  • Amber heat health alerts are in place in parts of the Midlands and eastern England until Wednesday - tips and tricks for staying safe in the heat

  • How long will the hot weather last?

Live Reporting

Edited by Charlotte Hadfield and Matt Spivey, with reporting from BBC Weather

  1. Heatwave confirmed as temperatures soar for third day

    Katie Williams
    Live reporter

    Punters on the River Great Ouse as temperatures climb over the bank holiday weekendReuters

    A heatwave has been confirmed in eight parts of England, the Met Office says, as temperatures soar for a third day.

    Santon Downham in Suffolk was the first location to cross the threshold at around 11:30 BST, closely followed by Heathrow - here's a list of the full eight locations.

    For a heatwave to be declared, temperatures must exceed a threshold above the "normal" climate for three consecutive days.

    BBC Weather reports that England, Wales and Northern Ireland all had their warmest days of the year today but Scotland did not.

    Throughout the day, the BBC's Weather Watchers have been sharing sun-drenched snaps.

    And it looks like the mercury could climb even higher tomorrow, when forecasters predict it could be the hottest May day ever recorded, with temperatures possibly exceeding 33C in parts of south-east England.

    Amber and yellow heat alerts remain in place across parts of the country until Wednesday.

    We're now bringing our live coverage to a close, but you can read more in our story.

  2. How to stay safe as temperatures soar for third day

    A child is applying sunscreen on her cheeks while standing outside in a backyardGetty Images

    As high temperatures continue, it's important to take precautions so you can enjoy the warmer weather safely.

    Babies and young children

    • Babies under six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight
    • Older babies should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly between 11:00 and 15:00
    • Once your baby is six months, sun cream can be applied - this should be at least SPF 30
    • A parasol or sunshade can help keep your child safe while in a pushchair
    • Lightweight clothing can help keep them cool, and sunglasses and a hat help with sun protection
    • Keep children hydrated and reduce excessive physical activity

    Over-65s

    • Those on medications should make sure they are stored correctly - most need to be stored below 25C (and some in the fridge)
    • Ask a friend, relative or neighbour to check in on you and help with shopping if you want to avoid the worst heat of the day
    • Lots of the same advice applies when it comes to keeping hydrated, applying sun cream, and wearing the right clothing
    • Anyone with a pre-existing health condition like heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease should be particularly cautious

    Pets

    • Keep pets hydrated - putting ice cubes in their water bowl can help
    • Never leave pets in hot enclosed spaces like stationary cars
    • Give them damp towels to lie on
    • Make sure they have shade
    • You can use pet-safe sun cream on exposed parts of your pet's skin, the RSPCA says

    Infographic titled “Tips for staying cool and safe,” showing four circular illustrations with advice for hot weather. Top left: a tap filling a glass of water alongside fruit, with text reading “Drink water and eat foods with high water content.” Top right: a person wearing a hat and loose clothing, with text reading “Wear loose-fitting clothing in breathable fabrics and a hat.” Bottom left: a person sitting on a bench under a tree, with text reading “Stay in the shade and limit travel and exercise.” Bottom right: a person under a showerhead, with text reading “Use fans, ice and cool showers to reduce your body temperature.” A BBC logo appears in the bottom corner.

  3. Hottest May day in 79 years provisionally recorded

    Matt Taylor and Helen Rossington
    BBC Weather

    Today has provisionally been the UK's hottest May day in 79 years.

    32.1C was recorded at Heathrow, so far making it the warmest May day since 1947.

    England, Wales and Northern Ireland all got their warmest days of the year, but Scotland did not:

    • England: 32.1C recorded in Heathrow
    • Wales: 27.2C recorded in Cardiff Bute Park
    • Northern Ireland: 23.3C recorded in Armagh
    • Scotland: 23.4C recorded in Edinburgh Botanic Garden

    These figures could be subject to change - final temperatures for the day will be known for 19:00 BST.

  4. Jersey sees hottest May day on record

    Jonathan Morris
    BBC South West

    A row of small sailing boats sits on a sandy beach beside a coastal path, with calm blue sea, a distant headland and scattered houses under a bright, lightly clouded sky.Lily/BBC Weather Watchers

    Temperatures are expected to get even hotter in the coming days

    Jersey has seen its hottest May day on record as temperatures soar in the Channel Islands.

    Temperatures in St Helier climbed to 29.2C (84.5F), beating the previous May record of 28.9C (84.0F) set in 2003. Records date back to 1894.

    The Met Office is forecasting that temperatures will reach 33C (91.4F) in Jersey on Monday.

  5. It’s the warmest day of the year… again!

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    Girl sits in deck chair eating ice creamGetty Images

    At 15:00 BST, these areas reached the following temperatures:

    • 31.1C in Heathrow, Greater London
    • 30.8C in Kew Gardens, Greater London
    • 30.5C in Teddington, Greater London
    • 30.4C in Charlwood, Surrey
    • 30.0C in Farnborough, Hampshire

    At the opposite end of the scale:

    • 11.1C in Lerwick in the Shetland archipelago
    • 12.4C in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides

    But final temperatures will not be confirmed until after 19:00.

  6. Animals and humans alike attempt to stay cool as heatwave declared in parts of England

    We've received pictures from across the country as a heatwave is declared for eight regions of England.

    Dogs, cows, people and even butterflies are out enjoying the sunshine, or at least attempting to stay as comfortable as they can.

    A dog in sun-shade next a bowl of water in WIlliton SomersetWeather Watchers Frank McC

    A dog in Williton, Somerset, having a snooze under their sun shade, with plenty of water to drink

    Margate beach is packed with beach goers as temperatures climb over the bank holiday weekend due to a heat dome spreading across the region, in Margate, Britain, May 24, 2026Reuters

    Margate beach was filled with those sheltering under umbrellas from the bank holiday sun

    Cows sheltering under a tree in Leek, StaffordshireWeather Watchers Mr Twister

    These cows in Leek, Staffordshire, enjoyed some shade under a tree

    Butterfly in Pakefield SuffolkWeather Watchers Hayley85

    This butterfly snapped in Pakefield, Suffolk, wasn't minding the heat too much

  7. A quick guide on how to stay cool

    A middle age woman holds a small handheld fan near her face while standing by a window.Getty Images

    Keeping yourself cool

    • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
    • Wear loose-fitting and breathable clothing
    • Stick to the shade
    • Use fans, ice and cool showers to reduce your body temperature
    • Limit travel and exercise, particularly at the hottest parts of the day

    Keeping your home cool

    • Open windows on the shady side of your home and close them on the sunny side - also open them at night
    • Use curtains and blinds to keep out sunlight
    • Use an electric fan
    • Limit your use of the oven
    Infographic showing how to ventilate a home to keep it cool. A cutaway house diagram illustrates airflow with arrows: a blue arrow shows cooler air entering through an open ground-floor window, while a red arrow shows warm air rising and exiting through an open loft window. Text explains: “Open loft window to let heat out,” “Open loft hatch to help hot air rise further,” and “Create cross current by opening windows on opposite sides of the house.” The rooms include a kitchen and living area with furniture and appliances. A BBC logo appears at the bottom.

  8. How long will the warm weather last?

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    For some of you, this heat is not just a quick weekend blast.

    Despite a few daily and regional fluctuations, the heat will remain until the end of the week - likely great news for the tourism and hospitality industry as it falls on the same week as half term for many schools in England and Wales.

    Most weather forecast models show that respite will begin next weekend and more starkly into next week.

    The jet stream, to the north of us this week, will wobble back southwards meaning areas of low pressure, occasional rain, stronger winds, and a drop in temperature as we head into the first week of June.

  9. Heatwave conditions met in eight parts of England, says Met Office
    Breaking

    Eight areas of England have met heatwave conditions so far today, the Met Office tells the BBC.

    They are:

    • Heathrow in Greater London
    • Benson in Oxfordshire
    • Brooms Barn in Suffolk
    • High Beech in Essex
    • Kew Gardens in London
    • Northolt in London
    • Santon Downham in Suffolk
    • Writtle in Essex

    The Met Office says Santon Downham was the first location to meet the criteria at around 11:30 BST - its heatwave threshold is 27C for three consecutive days.

    It was closely followed by Heathrow at around 11:50, whose criteria is three consecutive days at 28C.

  10. It's not all sunshine for some parts of the UK

    A map of the UK showing temperatures forecast across the country on Sunday and Monday

    Heatwave conditions have been confirmed by the Met Office at Heathrow Airport, but not everywhere in the UK is experiencing high temperatures.

    Parts of north-west Scotland are expected to stay fairly cloudy at times, with some occasional rain likely and temperatures in the lower-teens.

    Other parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland will be cooler, but temperatures will slowly increase over the coming days.

    Some areas along the coast will also feel cooler due to the sea breeze.

    However, it's important to remember that whatever the temperature UV levels are expected to be high.

  11. Temperature climbs further at Heathrow after heatwave criteria met, Met Office tells BBC
    Breaking

    The Met Office tells the BBC that the criteria for a heatwave were met at Heathrow after temperatures reached 28C.

    They have since climbed further to 30C by 14:00 BST.

  12. Paddling, beaching and boating: BBC Weather Watchers share their snaps

    The BBC's Weather Watchers have been sharing their pictures as temperatures climb for the third consecutive day.

    From pooches cooling their paws with a paddle to people heading out for a boat ride, here's a selection of their photos this bank holiday Sunday.

    A golden-coloured dog cools off in a pool of water in Lowestoft, SuffolkHayley85/BBC Weather Watchers

    Cooling off after a morning walk, this sensible pooch in Suffolk went for a paddle

    Boat pictured by crystal blue waters in Sheringham, Norfolk, with clear blue skies overheadWalking Tractor/BBC Weather Watchers

    Crystal waters in Norfolk make a postcard-perfect scene

    Boat pictured on the water beneath clear blue skies in Stratford-upon-Avon, WarwickshireSunshineDan/BBC Weather Watchers

    A group in Stratford-upon-Avon takes advantage of the bank holiday weekend with a boat trip

    Two women walking in Colden Common, Hampshire, with one wearing a sun hat and the other holding an umbrella for shadeYen Milne/BBC Weather Watchers

    Sunhats and parasols are the order of the day in Hampshire

    Blue skies above meadow scene where daisies and dandelions are picturedSue/BBC Weather Watchers

    Blue skies in Barnsley, where temperatures are forecast to hit around 24C today

    Cloudy conditions with small pockets of blue sky peeking through in Nairn, Highlands, with beach scene and grasses in foregroundRossi/BBC Weather Watchers

    There's cloudier conditions in Nairn in the Scottish Highlands, with highs of a more moderate 17C

  13. Heatwave conditions reached at Heathrow Airport
    Breaking

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    I can confirm that Heathrow Airport isthe first location in the UK to reach heatwave criteria.

    Temperatures reached over 28C in the area for the third consecutive day.

    More areas of south-east England and East Anglia will follow suit in the coming hours.

    Here's a reminder of when a heatwave is declared.

    Correction: An earlier version of this post said that Charlwood in Surrey had reached the heatwave threshold. However, the figures had been rounded up and the criteria have not been met for this area.

  14. May looks set to see record-breaking temperatures

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    It is now almost certain that the existing UK national temperature record for May will fall over the next few days.

    The current record of 32.8C (91F) was set on late spring bank holiday Monday in 1944 at Regent's Park, Horsham, and Tunbridge Wells.

    Not only are we likely to exceed this in parts of south-east England on bank holiday Monday AND on Tuesday, but with forecast temperatures closer to 34 Celsius (93F) the record could be beaten by some considerable margin.

    Wales could also set a new May record too in the next few days, which stands as the 30.6C (87F) recorded in Newport in 1944.

    And it's not just daytime heat records at risk, but also nighttime ones. It's possible on Monday or Tuesday night that somewhere stays warmer than the May record of 18.9C (66F) set in Folkestone in 1947.

  15. Amber and yellow alerts in place across areas of England

    Here's some more detail on the amber and yellow heat alerts that remain in place across parts of the country.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the following alerts, in place until 17:00 BST on Wednesday:

    Amber alerts

    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East of England
    • London
    • South East

    Yellow alerts

    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire and Humber
    • South West

    An amber alert means "significant impacts" are likely across health and social care services, while a yellow alert means "significant impacts" are possible.

    As we explained earlier, the UKHSA says alerts are usually only issued between June and September, making the current ones "extraordinary".

  16. A heatwave could soon be confirmed, but the threshold isn't the same everywhere

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    As temperatures soar this afternoon, some areas will officially be classed as being under heatwave conditions.

    Heatwaves, as defined by the UK Met Office, are when certain temperature are reached for three consecutive days or more.

    The actual temperature depends on where in the country you live. For many in the north and west of the UK the temperature threshold is 25 Celsius.

    For much of central and southern England, as well as south-east Wales it's either 26 or 27 Celsius, but for London, parts of the Home Counties and Cambridgeshire it is 28 Celsius.

    For large areas of south-east England and East Anglia we have already had two days above either 27 or 28 Celsius, and today is likely to be warmer still.

    A UK map showing the different heatwave thresholds in different parts of the UK, with a pink and red keyMet Office

  17. Three villages in Kent hit by water supply issues

    People living in three villages in Kent are experiencing no water or low water pressure for the second day.

    The affected areas are Charing, Challock and Molash near Ashford, where people first reported water supply problems on Saturday evening.

    South East Water (SEW) said the issue was resolved overnight, but added that water supply problems resumed at about 09:25 BST on Sunday due to "issues with the pumping station".

    The company has apologised to those who continue to be affected.

    "We know water supply issues during hot weather are deeply frustrating and incredibly disruptive," a spokesperson says.

  18. Is this heat unusual?

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    In short ...yes!

    Okay, we might have seen the temperature hit 30C in May in the past, but the intensity and longevity of the heat is something we haven't seen before.

    30C days in May the UK are actually relatively rare; the last time being in 2012, with only around ten in total recorded over the last 126 years.

    However, it is conceivable we could see five or six recorded across the UK this week alone!

    That will not only be unusual at any point in the summer, but it will be an historical heatwave for late-spring.

    Climate change is believed to play a large role in such hot spells as this.

    According to the Met Office's State of the UK Climate report, the number of days in the UK with temperatures above 28C has more than doubled, and the number of days with temperatures above 30C has more than trebled in the most recent decade, compared with the 1961-1990 average.

    Line graph titled “How the planet’s temperature has risen,” showing global annual average air temperature compared with pre‑industrial (1850–1900) levels from 1850 to 2025. The horizontal axis runs from 1850 to 2025, and the vertical axis ranges from about -0.5°C to +1.5°C. A red line tracks temperature changes over time. Temperatures fluctuate around the pre‑industrial average in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, then begin to rise steadily from around the mid‑20th century onward.

  19. What are the health risks of a heatwave?

    While it's welcomed by some, hot weather comes with risks. The main ones are dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, the NHS says.

    Certain groups are more at risk, including:

    • Those aged 65+ (the guidance used to be 75+, but this has changed)
    • Babies and young children under five
    • Pregnant women
    • Those with underlying health conditions, particularly heart problems, breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, or mobility problems

    Tips for staying safe include drinking plenty of water, staying indoors, keeping to the shade (particularly between 11:00 and 15:00 BST), wearing sun cream, and avoiding activities that make you hotter.

    Infographic titled “How heat affects the body.” A stylised illustration of a person stands beside a large sun icon. Dotted callouts label different parts of the body, explaining effects of heat: dizziness and faintness from dehydration; increased heart rate as the body works harder; heat rashes on the skin; sweating, which cools the body through evaporation; and swollen ankles due to increased blood flow. Source credited to Public Health England, with a BBC logo at the bottom.

  20. Watch: The latest forecast for the bank holiday weekend