England could hit 35C as record-breaking May heatwave continues across London and the South East
Parts of England could see temperatures rise to 35C on Tuesday as the country’s record-breaking May heatwave continues across London and the South East. The warning comes a day after Kew Gardens recorded a provisional 34.8C, the highest May temperature ever recorded in the UK and the hottest bank holiday Monday temperature on record.
Many people across England are also facing questions about whether British homes are designed to cope with longer periods of extreme summer heat. Scientists and weather experts have repeatedly warned that extreme heat events are becoming more frequent as global temperatures continue to rise. The rising temperatures have also renewed concerns about the risks prolonged heat poses for outdoor workers and public-facing staff.
Forecasters say Tuesday could become even hotter in some areas as warmer air builds close to the surface across southern England.
London and the South-East are expected to see the highest temperatures again, while much of England and Wales is forecast to remain in the high twenties. Northern parts of England are expected to avoid some of the most extreme heat seen on Monday.
The Met Office said temperatures at this level would be exceptional for the UK even during the middle of summer. There is also a chance of thunderstorms developing later in the day across parts of southern England, East Anglia and around Yorkshire as moisture increases in the atmosphere.
Monday also brought record May temperatures to Wales, where Hawarden Airport in Flintshire reached 32.2C. Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded their highest temperatures of the year so far, with 25.5C measured in Charterhall and 25.8C recorded at Derrylin in County Fermanagh.
Health officials have issued the first amber heat-health alert of 2026 across large parts of England, including London, the South-East, the East Midlands, and the West Midlands. The alert remains in place until Wednesday evening. Yellow alerts are also active across northern England and parts of the South-West.
The average UK temperature for late May is usually between 14C and 20C, making this week’s conditions unusually high for the time of year.
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