UK set to break record for hottest May day, with highs of 35 deg C expected

The UK is on track to experience its hottest May day on record on May 25, with temperatures expected to reach 35°C, according to the Met Office. This surpasses the previous record of 32.8°C, set in 1922 and again in 1944, marking an unprecedented heatwave for late spring. The Met Office noted that such records are typically broken by only tenths of a degree, making this event historic. The heatwave will also make May 25 the hottest bank holiday ever recorded, with high temperatures persisting into the night across southeast England and London. Scientists link the extreme weather to human-induced climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and floods. The UK already recorded its hottest year on record in 2025, and climate advisers have warned that the country’s infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, is unprepared for a warming planet. Residents in London described the heat as unusually intense, with temperatures exceeding 30°C on May 24. A 41-year-old mother, Andrea Quaine, expressed concern, stating that the heat demonstrates the reality of global warming. A 10-year-old visitor from Manchester, Liza Nizari, called the conditions 'like a mini version of hell,' highlighting the severity of the early-season heat. The Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan emphasized that temperatures above 35°C are rare even in summer, making this May heatwave particularly unusual. The event underscores the growing urgency for climate adaptation in the UK.