UK Wakes Up After Hottest May Night On Record Amid Ongoing Heatwave

UK Wakes Up After Hottest May Night on Record Amid Ongoing Heatwave People across the UK are waking up after what the Met Office says was the hottest May night ever recorded, following a historic heatwave that has already shattered daytime temperature records across the country. According to provisional Met Office data, temperatures at Kenley Airfield in south London did not fall below 21.3°C overnight, officially classifying it as a “tropical night”when temperatures remain above 20°C. The previous warmest May night record had been broken just one day earlier. The exceptionally warm night came after the UK experienced its hottest May day since records began. Temperatures reached 34.8°C at Kew Gardens in London on Monday, surpassing the previous May record of 32.8°C set in both 1922 and 1944.The Met Office described the temperatures as extraordinary for spring, saying such heat would be unusual even during the middle of summer. Areas across southern England, Wales, and parts of the Midlands exceeded 30°C, while Wales also provisionally recorded its hottest May day ever at 32.2°C in Hawarden. Meteorologists say the combination of high pressure, dry conditions, and warm air moving north from continental Europe created the extreme temperatures. Climate scientists also point to long-term global warming as increasing the likelihood of such unusually early heatwaves.The Met Office noted that temperatures above 30°C in May are historically rare in the UK, though becoming more likely in a warming climate. Authorities have issued heat-health alerts as hospitals, emergency services, and local councils prepare for continued hot conditions. Officials are urging people to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure, and check on vulnerable individuals. Grass fires were reported in parts of Scotland, including near Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

• Water supply disruptions affected some households in southeast England.
• A 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in a reservoir in West Yorkshire during the hot weather. Forecasters say temperatures could climb even higher, with parts of southern England potentially reaching 35–36°C later today. Thunderstorms are also possible in some regions after the intense heat.Meteorologists expect conditions to gradually cool later in the week, though temperatures are still likely to remain above average for late May.