The Met Office has confirmed that the record for the hottest May day has been broken again, with provisional temperatures surpassing 35C in London. The new record was set on Tuesday, May 26, exceeding Monday’s provisional all-time hottest meteorological spring temperature of 34.8C recorded at Kew Gardens in south-west London.
Record Temperatures Across the UK
In a post on X, the Met Office stated: "Today is now the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales, with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9C." Heathrow also provisionally recorded 35C. The agency noted that until yesterday, the highest temperature in May was 32.8C, but that record has now been exceeded on consecutive days by a full two degrees Celsius.
Train Services Disrupted
Train services across the UK faced disruptions due to the soaring temperatures. Network Rail imposed speed restrictions on tracks to maintain safety. South Western Railway (SWR) reported that all lines on its network were affected by multiple signalling faults, track defects, and heat-related speed restrictions. SWR, which operates commuter services from Waterloo to south-west London, suburban services in several counties, and regional services in Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire, warned of cancellations and delays of up to 60 minutes until the end of the day.
Health and Thunderstorm Warnings
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat-health alerts for the South West, South East, London, East and West Midlands, and East of England until 5pm on Thursday, May 28. Yellow heat-health alerts are in place for the North West and North East. The Met Office also issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for parts of the South West, West Midlands, East Midlands, and East of England between 3pm and 10pm on Tuesday, with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and gusty winds expected, along with potential rainfall of 30mm in less than an hour.
Water Safety Concerns
Several police forces, including South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, and Devon and Cornwall, were called to separate fatal incidents involving four teenagers and a man in his 60s. Lancashire Police conducted searches after a boy got into difficulty while swimming in a river in the Ribble Valley. The RNLI warned of the risk of cold water shock, as water temperatures remain low despite the air temperatures. The National Fire Chiefs Council urged families to discuss the dangers of unsupervised swimming in open water.
Tropical Nights and Future Outlook
The UK experienced a 'tropical night' on Monday, with temperatures not falling below 20C in some areas. Kenley Airfield in south London recorded 21.3C overnight. Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said the exceptional late-spring heat will continue, with more tropical nights expected. Temperatures are forecast to shift westwards on Wednesday, with northern areas feeling warmth on Thursday, before returning to near-normal by Sunday, May 31, with an increased chance of showers.
