UK records hottest spring day on record as temperatures reach 34.8°C (94.6°F)
A historic heatwave intensified across the UK on May 25, with 13 locations provisionally breaking the country’s all-time May temperature record. Kew Gardens reached 34.8°C (94.6°F), surpassing the previous record of 32.8°C (91.0°F), while temperatures above 30°C (86°F) expanded across large parts of England. Forecasts show the heat persisting into May 26, with London potentially reaching 35°C (95°F).
Image credit: Chas B
The temperature in Kew Gardens provisionally reached 34.8°C (94.6°F), making May 25 the hottest day on record for the month of May, the Met Office confirmed at 16:53 local time (LT). This came just 3 hours after Heathrow provisionally broke the record, reaching 33.5°C (92.3°F).
The UK is currently experiencing a historic heatwave that intensified after recording the highest temperature on May 24, when temperatures reached 30.5°C (86.9°F) in Frittenden, Kent. The reading marked the first time temperatures exceeded 30°C (86°F) in the UK during May since 2012.
“We’ve now provisionally broken the spring and May temperature record. Meteorologically, what we’ve seen is the influence of warmth building under an area of high pressure near the UK, allowing exceptional heat to build, allowing maximum and minimum temperatures to reach levels not previously reported at this time of year,” said Met Office Chief Operational Meteorologist Dan Suri.
“Further heat is in the forecast for much of England and Wales, with similar temperatures forecast for Tuesday. High pressure is forecast to gradually lose its influence later in the week, though maximum temperatures will still remain high and in the low 30°Cs for some mid-week and high 20°Cs late this week,” Suri added.
Provisionally 13 sites have recorded a temperature higher than the previous May record of 32.8 Celsius pic.twitter.com/ypMyEkgxNL
— Met Office (@metoffice) May 25, 2026
The Met Office confirmed that 13 sites provisionally broke the all-time high temperature record for May on May 25. The previous record was 32.8°C (91.0°F), set in 1922 and matched in 1944.
Heathrow, Greater London, recorded 34.4°C (93.9°F), followed by Northolt, Greater London, with 34.2°C (93.6°F), and Teddington Bushy Park, Middlesex, with 34.0°C (93.2°F).
Additional provisional record-breaking temperatures included 33.6°C (92.5°F) at Benson, Oxfordshire; 33.3°C (91.9°F) at Wisley, Surrey; 33.2°C (91.8°F) at Reading University, Berkshire, and Wellesbourne, Warwickshire; and 33.0°C (91.4°F) at Cippenham, Berkshire.
Brize Norton, Oxfordshire; Charlwood, Surrey; Houghton Hall, Norfolk; and Santon Downham, Suffolk, each recorded 32.9°C (91.2°F). Marham, Norfolk, and Woburn, Bedfordshire, equaled the previous record with 32.8°C (91.0°F).
The Wales May temperature record was also provisionally broken after Hawarden Airport, Clwyd, recorded 32.2°C (90.0°F), surpassing the previous Welsh May record of 30.6°C (87.1°F) set at Newport, Monmouthshire, on May 29, 1944.
A high-pressure system is forecast to dominate the region through the night of May 25 into May 26, maintaining the warm temperatures. Well above-average temperatures are forecast across the country through May 26.
A sunny bank holiday Monday for many and very hot across England and Wales with unprecedented and record breaking heat for May
— Met Office (@metoffice) May 25, 2026
Warm for Northern Ireland and most of Scotland too, but once again cloudier in northwest Scotland with patchy light rain pic.twitter.com/iqyvKLtZJL
Temperatures are forecast to remain high, with London forecast to possibly reach 35°C (95°F) on May 26. Meanwhile, Norwich and Southampton are forecast to see temperatures of up to 34°C (93.2°F).
Temperatures are forecast to remain in the lower 30s°C (mid-80s°F) in Manchester, Plymouth, Cardiff, and Birmingham. Meanwhile, northern regions, including Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen, will be relatively cooler, with forecast temperatures ranging from 13 to 24°C (55.4 to 75.2°F).
Forecast maximum temperatures are expected to remain elevated through the week, reaching 31°C (87.8°F) on May 27, 30°C (86°F) on May 28, 27°C (80.6°F) on May 29, and 28°C (82.4°F) on May 30.
The UK Health Security Agency currently has Amber and Yellow Heat Health Alerts in effect due to potential health impacts associated with the prolonged heat.
The Met Office said all provisional national temperature records undergo a formal validation process, including equipment verification and site inspections, before being officially entered into the UK meteorological record books. If validated, the new May record would mean that seven of the UK’s 12 monthly temperature records have been set since 2003.
References:
1 Provisional spring daily temperature record as heatwave continues – Met Office – May 25, 2026
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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