Summary

  • A heatwave has officially been declared in Heathrow and Charlwood in Surrey

  • Temperatures surpassed 28C for the third consecutive day, meeting the threshold for a heatwave - when is a heatwave declared?

  • Amber heat-health alerts are in place in parts of the Midlands and eastern England until at least Wednesday

  • It looks increasingly likely that a new all-time UK May temperature record will be set on Monday - 32.8C is currently the highest temperature ever recorded in May

  • Forecasts show that some areas of England and Wales may stay above heatwave criteria for most of the week

  • Let us know what the weather is like where you live

  1. Heatwave officially declared in parts of UKpublished at 12:45 BST
    Breaking

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    A heatwave has officially been confirmed in parts of the UK as temperatures reached over 28C at Heathrow Airport and Charlwood in Surrey for the third consecutive day.

    More areas of south-east England and East Anglia will follow suit in the coming hours.

    Here's a reminder of when a heatwave is declared.

  2. May looks set to see record-breaking temperaturespublished at 12:42 BST

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    It is now almost certain that the existing UK national temperature record for May will fall over the next few days.

    The current record of 32.8C (91F) was set on late spring bank holiday Monday in 1944 at Regent's Park, Horsham, and Tunbridge Wells.

    Not only are we likely to exceed this in parts of south-east England on bank holiday Monday AND on Tuesday, but with forecast temperatures closer to 34 Celsius (93F) the record could be beaten by some considerable margin.

    Wales could also set a new May record too in the next few days, which stands as the 30.6C (87F) recorded in Newport in 1944.

    And it's not just daytime heat records at risk, but also nighttime ones. It's possible on Monday or Tuesday night that somewhere stays warmer than the May record of 18.9C (66F) set in Folkestone in 1947.

  3. Amber and yellow alerts in place across areas of Englandpublished at 12:34 BST

    Here's some more detail on the amber and yellow heat alerts that remain in place across parts of the country.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the following alerts, in place until 17:00 BST on Wednesday:

    Amber alerts

    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East of England
    • London
    • South East

    Yellow alerts

    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire and Humber
    • South West

    An amber alert means "significant impacts" are likely across health and social care services, while a yellow alert means "significant impacts" are possible.

    As we explained earlier, the UKHSA says alerts are usually only issued between June and September, making the current ones "extraordinary".

  4. A heatwave could soon be confirmed, but the threshold isn't the same everywherepublished at 12:06 BST

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    As temperatures soar this afternoon, some areas will officially be classed as being under heatwave conditions.

    Heatwaves, as defined by the UK Met Office, are when certain temperature are reached for three consecutive days or more.

    The actual temperature depends on where in the country you live. For many in the north and west of the UK the temperature threshold is 25 Celsius.

    For much of central and southern England, as well as south-east Wales it's either 26 or 27 Celsius, but for London, parts of the Home Counties and Cambridgeshire it is 28 Celsius.

    For large areas of south-east England and East Anglia we have already had two days above either 27 or 28 Celsius, and today is likely to be warmer still.

    A UK map showing the different heatwave thresholds in different parts of the UK, with a pink and red keyImage source, Met Office
  5. Three villages in Kent hit by water supply issuespublished at 11:50 BST

    People living in three villages in Kent are experiencing no water or low water pressure for the second day.

    The affected areas are Charing, Challock and Molash near Ashford, where people first reported water supply problems on Saturday evening.

    South East Water (SEW) said the issue was resolved overnight, but added that water supply problems resumed at about 09:25 BST on Sunday due to "issues with the pumping station".

    The company has apologised to those who continue to be affected.

    "We know water supply issues during hot weather are deeply frustrating and incredibly disruptive," a spokesperson says.

  6. Is this heat unusual?published at 11:39 BST

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter

    In short ...yes!

    Okay, we might have seen the temperature hit 30C in May in the past, but the intensity and longevity of the heat is something we haven't seen before.

    30C days in May the UK are actually relatively rare; the last time being in 2012, with only around ten in total recorded over the last 126 years.

    However, it is conceivable we could see five or six recorded across the UK this week alone!

    That will not only be unusual at any point in the summer, but it will be an historical heatwave for late-spring.

    Climate change is believed to play a large role in such hot spells as this.

    According to the Met Office's State of the UK Climate report, the number of days in the UK with temperatures above 28C has more than doubled, and the number of days with temperatures above 30C has more than trebled in the most recent decade, compared with the 1961-1990 average.

    Line graph titled “How the planet’s temperature has risen,” showing global annual average air temperature compared with pre‑industrial (1850–1900) levels from 1850 to 2025. The horizontal axis runs from 1850 to 2025, and the vertical axis ranges from about -0.5°C to +1.5°C. A red line tracks temperature changes over time. Temperatures fluctuate around the pre‑industrial average in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, then begin to rise steadily from around the mid‑20th century onward.
  7. What are the health risks of a heatwave?published at 11:15 BST

    While it's welcomed by some, hot weather comes with risks. The main ones are dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, the NHS says.

    Certain groups are more at risk, including:

    • Those aged 65+ (the guidance used to be 75+, but this has changed)
    • Babies and young children under five
    • Pregnant women
    • Those with underlying health conditions, particularly heart problems, breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, or mobility problems

    Tips for staying safe include drinking plenty of water, staying indoors, keeping to the shade (particularly between 11:00 and 15:00 BST), wearing sun cream, and avoiding activities that make you hotter.

    Infographic titled “How heat affects the body.” A stylised illustration of a person stands beside a large sun icon. Dotted callouts label different parts of the body, explaining effects of heat: dizziness and faintness from dehydration; increased heart rate as the body works harder; heat rashes on the skin; sweating, which cools the body through evaporation; and swollen ankles due to increased blood flow. Source credited to Public Health England, with a BBC logo at the bottom.
  8. Watch: The latest forecast for the bank holiday weekendpublished at 10:37 BST

  9. What's the weather like where you are?published at 10:35 BST

    As temperatures remain high on Sunday and a heatwave is expected to be officially declared in parts of the UK, let us know what it's like where you are.

    You can send us your updates or pictures in the following ways:

    Please read ourterms & conditions andprivacy policy

    In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

    Your Voice banner graphic
  10. Amber heat alerts remain in place for parts of Englandpublished at 10:23 BST

    Amber heat health alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Friday remain in place for the Midlands and much of south-east England.

    Less-severe yellow warnings are in place for the remainder of England, with all alerts set to run to 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

    These heat health alerts are issued by government agency UKHSA in partnership with the Met Office, and are only issued in England.

    Yellow health alerts mean vulnerable groups will likely be affected, while amber alerts could affect the whole population and lead to "significant impacts" across health and social care services, says the agency.

    The UKHSA lists on its website that alerts are generally only issued between June and September, but that “extraordinary alerts” may be issued if an episode of heat was to occur outside that window - as we are seeing now.

    Map showing the various UKHSA heat alerts in place forparts of the UK
  11. When does hot weather become a heatwave?published at 10:16 BST

    Map showing the Met Office heatwave thresholds across the UK for the daily maximum temperature. 25 Celsius in Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of Wales and northern England. For many other areas of England , as well as south-east Wales it is 26 or 27 Celsius, but for London, most of the home counties and Cambridgeshire it's 28 Celsius.

    The threshold for hot weather becoming a heatwave depends on what the "normal" climate for an area is.

    This is different across the UK, with the Met Office setting the temperature for a heatwave at 25C in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England.

    For many other areas of England, as well as south-east Wales, it is 26C or 27C. In London, most of the home counties and Cambridgeshire, it is 28C.

    If these temperatures are exceeded for at least three days a heatwave is declared.

  12. Heatwave likely in parts of UK as record-breaking temperatures forecastpublished at 10:14 BST

    Jack Grey
    Live reporter

    A baby lounges in a stroller, holding a sunscreen bottle while a caregiver gently applies lotion to his faceImage source, Getty Images

    A heatwave is expected to be officially declared later today as temperatures soar across swathes of the UK.

    On Saturday, a high of 30.5C was recorded in Frittenden, Kent, becoming the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures set to remain high throughout Sunday.

    Monday is forecast to be the hottest May day on record – with current forecasts showing the possibility of temperatures exceeding 33C in parts of south-east England.

    For a heatwave to be declared, temperatures must exceed a threshold above the "normal" climate for three consecutive days.

    Amber heat-health alerts remain in force for parts of the Midlands and eastern England until at least Wednesday

    For Northern Ireland, Scotland, most of Wales and parts of England, this is 25C, while for parts of south Wales and much of England this ranges from between 26 and 28C.

    We'll bring you the key developments right here on this page, stay with us.