Heatwave conditions met in parts of England as record-breaking temperatures forecast

Eight areas of England have met heatwave conditions, the Met Office has said, as a spell of unusual May heat intensifies.

The eight areas of England that met heatwave conditions were Kew Gardens, Heathrow and Northolt in London, Benson in Oxfordshire, Brooms Barn in Suffolk, High Beech in Essex, Santon Downham in Suffolk and Writtle in Essex.

The temperature of 32.3C recorded at Kew Gardens on Sunday was the highest of the year so far, the Met Office said.

The soaring highs could also lead to new national May temperature records being set on bank holiday Monday. Currently 32.8C is the highest record for May, set in 1944.

Wales and Northern Ireland also saw their warmest days of the year on Sunday, with 27.4C recorded in Cardiff and 23.4C in Armagh. Scotland highest temperature was 23.5C in Edinburgh - just short of a high recorded in Aboyne earlier in May.

While the tourism and hospitality industry are welcoming the well-timed hot and sunny weather, the longevity of the heatwave is likely to have impacts on the health of some.

Amber heat-health alerts remain in force for parts of the Midlands and eastern England until at least Wednesday.

This all depends on where you live and is based on the "normal" climate there.

Met Office heatwave criteria sets the temperature for a heatwave at 25C in Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of Wales and northern England.

For many other areas of England, as well as south-east Wales, it is 26 or 27C. In London, most of the home counties and Cambridgeshire, it is 28C.

These thresholds must be reached or exceeded on at least three consecutive days.

It is possible that many areas will officially be classed as being in a heatwave when Sunday's temperatures are confirmed.

For some areas it is likely to turn into a prolonged heatwave.

Saturday brought the UK its first 30C day of the year, and the earliest date 30C was reached since 1952.

With heat set to build further across England and Wales on bank holiday Monday it looks increasingly likely that a new all-time UK May temperature record will be set.

32.8C is currently the highest temperature ever recorded in May. It was set on the Late Spring Bank Holiday Monday in 1944 at Tunbridge Wells, Horsham and Central London.

Forecasts show the possibility of reaching 33C or 34C in parts of south-east England.

The night-time temperature record for May could also be swept aside too if any location stays above the 18.9C set in Folkestone on the night of the 30-31 May 1947.

Forecasts show that some areas of England and Wales may stay above heatwave criteria for most of the week.

30C days in May the UK are relatively rare; however, it is conceivable we could see four or five recorded this week alone.

Climate change is believed to have played a 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.

Sunshine and heat will not grip the entire UK this weekend.

Scotland and Northern Ireland saw some cloud coverage on Sunday morning, which is expected to break up throughout the day.

Parts of north-west Scotland are forecast 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 pleasantly warm, rather than hot as temperatures slowly increase over the coming days. The warmth may peak here around Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures hitting the mid-20s Celsius.

Some coasts will also be fresher, where sea breezes come off a cooler sea.

However,the heat is expected to continue in many areas over the week and it is worth remembering though that, whatever the temperature UV levels are expected to be high.