Summary

  1. Lifesaving charity urges people to stay safe in water after three deaths over bank holidaypublished at 11:57 BST

    The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has urged people to stay safe after three teenagers died in separate incidents after getting into trouble at swimming spots in Yorkshire and Warwickshire.

    It warned that "warmer weather unfortunately sees an increase in accidental drownings" and while air temperatures are hot, water temperatures remain very cold.

    People should stop think before getting into water as cold water shock can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water, RLSS adds.

    If you do decide to get in the water, people should follow the Water Safety Code to keep safe and always stay together, the RLSS says.

    If you see a person in an emergency you should:

    • Call 999 immediately
    • Stay out of the water yourself
    • Tell them to keep calm and throw something that floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, for them to hold onto and stay afloat while help is on the way
    A red and yellow safety placed in front of a UK reservoir warning against swimming and diving due to hidden submerged objectsImage source, Getty
  2. Firefighters work through the night to tackle grass fire near Edinburgh landmarkpublished at 11:50 BST

    Firefighters have worked through the night to tackle a fire in Holyrood Park near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.

    Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) says as of 09:00 this morning, two fire appliances remained in attendance to dampen down hot spots.

    The fire started in an area of vegetation near the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel on Monday, with the alarm being raised at 18:50 BST.

    A fire service spokesperson adds that there are no reported casualties.

    It comes as temperatures of 23.5C were recorded in Edinburgh on Monday, but the cause of the blaze is yet to be confirmed.

    A fire at in Holyrood Park near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh
  3. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke - signs you're overheatingpublished at 11:36 BST

    During hot weather, it’s easy to overheat, which can sometimes lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

    Heat exhaustion isn’t usually serious as long as you can cool down. But heatstroke is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment.

    Older adults, young children and people with long-term health conditions are especially at risk.

    Here are the symptoms to watch out for:

    A composite image showing the differences between heat exhaustion and heatstroke
  4. Is it acceptable to wear shorts to work? We ask the experts...published at 11:22 BST

    Charlotte Hadfield
    Live reporter

    A woman on a video call wearing a blue shirt, black shorts and a headsetImage source, Getty Images

    As many people head back to the office after the bank holiday, you may have struggled to choose what to wear to keep cool in the warm weather.

    When deciding whether it's appropriate to wear shorts to work, personal stylist Sian Clarke, known as Styled by Sian, says people should consider two things - how important comfort is to them and whether they are someone who overheats easily.

    "With the emotional and comfort side I would fully support it," Sian tells the BBC.

    However, in more traditional workplaces where "you don't want to raise eyebrows" or run the risk of being asked to change, Sian says employees may want to stick to the dress code.

    "It comes down to the person and place of work, but I think it's a really modern approach."

    Composite image of a man in tailored grey shortsImage source, Getty Images

    By law, employers have a "duty of care" to make sure working temperatures are reasonable for their staff, according to workplace conciliation service Acas.

    While employers are not under any obligation to relax their dress code during hot weather, Acas says "where possible it may be advisable to for employers to relax the rules for wearing ties or suits".

    If you want to keep cool at work without wearing shorts, Sian recommends opting for natural fibres, including organic materials which are more breathable, along with loser fitting clothes.

    Are you braving bare legs at work? Get in touch at yourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external, external

  5. Sydney tourists buy thinner clothes to cope with London heatpublished at 11:14 BST

    Kieran Kelly and Maddie Lake
    Reporting from Regent's Park

    An older man and woman, holding an umbrella, in a park.

    We’re here in Regent's Park speaking to locals and tourists about how they’re coping with the record-breaking heatwave.

    Being from Sydney, Vince and Therese Pham, 68 and 64, are used to scorching temperatures, but expected it to be a lot cooler when they arrived last week.

    Therese tells us she packed lots of jumpers because she thought it would be “very cold” but has since had to buy “thinner” clothes from the shops.

    “I didn’t pack these clothes for London. I left the thick coat at home and thought I’d have to buy one here, but now - no need, no need. We had to buy thinner clothes instead,” she says.

    Vince adds: “I just bought tops and shirts.”

    Despite the heat, the couple have pressed ahead with their plans, having visited Windsor yesterday, where temperatures peaked at 32C.

    Vince says the trains were a bit “stuffy".

    "But it’s okay because we live in Australia. It’s even hotter there," he says.

  6. In pictures: Dogs and donkeys soak up the sunshinepublished at 11:08 BST

    Tuesday could be another record-breaking day in parts of the UK as temperatures climb.

    BBC Weather Watchers have been sending us their photos from across the country and we've picked out some of our favourites.

    Two donkeys stand in a field in front of the sea in County Down, Northern IrelandImage source, BBC Weather Watchers/Matt
    Image caption,

    These two donkeys posed for a picture on the coast of Killowen in County Down, Northern Ireland

    Cliffs on the coast of Pennard in SwanseaImage source, BBC Weather Watchers/Oystermouth Photographer
    Image caption,

    The peninsula of Pennard in Swansea basking in the sunshine

    A dog wearing sunglasses with his tongue out while lying in a field of buttercupsImage source, BBC Weather Watchers/Trippthedog
    Image caption,

    This dog remembered his sunglasses in Exeter

    Rolling fields off in the distance, broken up by trees. Red poppies grow in the foregroundImage source, BBC Weather Watchers/Pia
    Image caption,

    The rolling hills of Perth bask in the sun

  7. Yorkshire records its first spring 'tropical night'published at 11:00 BST

    Matt Taylor
    Lead weather presenter, BBC weather

    A dawn view of a field in Market Weighton, East YorkshireImage source, BBC Weather Watchers/George
    Image caption,

    The sun rising over Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, on Tuesday

    Last night saw Yorkshire experience its first ever 'tropical night' in spring as provisional readings state the temperature stayed above 20C throughout.

    At Emley Moor it didn't get any colder than 20.9C all night.

    It doesn't beat the highest overnight temperature though, which was recorded at Kenley and didn't fall below 21.3C, breaking the record for warmest may night - more on that in our earlier post.

  8. Nearly 30C in London as temperatures climbpublished at 10:52 BST

    Simon King
    Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

    It’s mid-morning and already hot out there for many of us.

    The highest temperature is in Greater London with almost 30C recorded and we’re nearly two degrees higher than this time yesterday morning.

    It’s therefore looking increasingly likely that this afternoon we’ll be close to or even exceeding the May record which was set yesterday of 34.8C.

    It's still a cooler picture the further north though, with the Shetland Islands reaching 11C.

    A map showing the weather across the UK. It's 30C at the bottom, 18C in Northern Ireland, 19C in central Scotland and 25C in Wales
  9. How to stay cool as UK enters fifth day of hot weatherpublished at 10:43 BST

    Many of us will be trying to cope today with having had a restless night's sleep in the heat. As temperatures rise on the fifth day of sweltering conditions for some, here's how you can stay cool:

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  10. Thunderstorms forecast, but most won't see thempublished at 10:34 BST

    Simon King
    Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

    While there this a large yellow warning for thunderstorms across the Midlands into southern England from 15:00 BST this afternoon, it’s important to stress that they will be very isolated and most will likely keep the hot and sunny weather.

    This means one town may experience a thunderstorm but another town five miles down the road could completely miss it.

    Where they do form, the thunderstorm could be particularly heavy with flash flooding, frequent lightning with gusty winds and even hail.

    Yes, hail - these balls of ice form high up in the thunderstorm cloud and are a feature of spring and summer weather when there is a lot of energy in the atmosphere.

  11. Yellow weather warning issued for thunderstormspublished at 10:24 BST

    The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in England, in force from 15:00 BST to 22:00 today.

    "Isolated intense thunderstorms could bring disruption to a few places," the forecaster says.

    The weather bureau says the warning affects the East Midlands, East of England, parts of London and south-east England, parts of north-west England, south-west England, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber.

    It adds the warning has a "very low likelihood and a medium impact".

    A yellow warning above parts of central England and south west
  12. Body recovered after teenage boy goes missing at South Yorkshire swimming spotpublished at 10:10 BST

    A body has been recovered from a swimming spot in South Yorkshire after a teenage boy went missing after entering the water.

    South Yorkshire Police say its officers were called to Rother Valley Country Park at 18:50 BST following reports that the boy had entered the water but was not seen getting out.

    In a statement, the force says fire crews and ambulance officers also responded, with a search operation being launched.

    "Sadly, in the early hours of this morning, a body was recovered from the water. Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, the boy's family has been informed and is being supported by officers," the statement reads.

    The report of the death follows two others at swimming spots in the UK yesterday, including a teenage girl whose body was recovered from the water in Warwickshire, and a 13-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty while in a reservoir in West Yorkshire.

  13. South Western Railway services disrupted due to hot weatherpublished at 10:00 BST

    South Western Railway says "due to the ongoing hot weather" they have cancelled and revised some services to “help minimise any potential disruption”.

    This could affect journeys between the following:

    • London Waterloo - Winchester - Southampton - Bournemouth - Weymouth
    • London Waterloo - Woking - Guildford - Aldershot

    Some trains between Exeter St Davids, Salisbury and London Waterloo are starting and finishing at Basingstoke.

    Passengers are advised to check their journeys before travelling.

    With the hot weather, the company is also reminding passengers to carry water and stay hydrated while travelling.

    File photo of South Western train in Basingstoke, 2022Image source, PA
  14. Why is it so hot?published at 09:46 BST

    Simon King
    Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

    Much of the UK and Western Europe has been under the influence of a large area high pressure in recent days and this is key.

    Within high pressure, air is sinking through the atmosphere and this does two things.

    The first is, like a sponge, it dries the air out so that there is little cloud which in turn means more sunshine is absorbed by the ground, heating the air from below.

    The second is that as air descends in the atmosphere, it is being squeezed against the ground, or compressed - hence the high pressure at the surface. And compression heats air up, in the same way you feel heat when you pump a bicycle tyre up.

    With high pressure - or a so-called ‘heatdome’ - stationary for days on end, temperatures will rapidly increase and be mostly sustained for as long as it’s there.

    A heat map of Europe with a circle of arrows around western Europe with the word 'high' in the centre.
  15. Seven deaths linked to record May heatwave in Francepublished at 09:35 BST

    Paul Kirby
    Europe digital editor

    As Europe also faces a heatwave, French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon says seven deaths have been linked to the record warm weather, either directly or indirectly.

    She tells French TV they include at least five people drowning as well as deaths related to the extreme heat during sporting events.

    Bregeon's office told AFP news agency that two people had drowned in the Gironde in the south-west and two died taking part in sporting activities in Paris and Lyon.

    A 53-year-old runner died during an annual Paris race called La Pyrénéenne on Sunday, and a 28-year-old woman died in hospital of hypothermia, after collapsing at an indoor running and fitness event that had air-conditioning.

    Sports minister Marina Ferrari has warned that some events may have to be cancelled.

    Temperatures reached 34.7C in Bergerac in western France, and are set to hit 32C in parts of Belgium today.

    France, Belgium, Italy and Spain are experiencing very high temperatures, with France breaking dozens of local heat records for May on Monday.

    A man fills a glass of water at a public fountain in the Montparnasse district of Paris on May 25, 2026, as French weather service Météo-France placed the capital under yellow alert amid an exceptionally early heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 35C across the region.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The temperature passed 30C in Paris on Monday

  16. Amber and yellow heat alerts remain active, covering Englandpublished at 09:20 BST

    A tourists takes a photo of Big BenImage source, PA Media

    The UK Health Security Agency has issued five amber heat-health alerts for much of England, covering the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East and London.

    This means the agency expects more vulnerable people will need health care because of the heat. There’s also a higher health risk for people over 65 or with pre-existing health conditions such as respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.

    People are advised to protect themselves and their property, as there is a likely, widespread impact.

    England's North East, North West, South West, Yorkshire and Humber regions are under yellow alerts. People are advised to take precautions and check forecasts.

    The alerts were issued on Friday and will remain in place until 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

  17. Body of teenage girl recovered from water in Warwickshire country parkpublished at 09:06 BST

    The body of a teenage girl was recovered from Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire on Monday evening, Atherstone and Coleshill Police say.

    In a statement, police say she was removed from the water shortly after 19:20 BST. Officers were called to the site at 18:05 "after concerns for the welfare of a teenage girl in the water".

    The girl was pronounced dead at the scene "despite the efforts of emergency services", the police say, adding that an investigation is ongoing and the girl's next of kin have been made aware.

    Specialist teams, the police helicopter, fire service and ambulance all took part in the search on Monday.

    The news comes after a 13-year-old boy was confirmed to have died after getting into difficulty in a West Yorkshire reservoir.

  18. Ireland could see the hottest May day on recordpublished at 08:58 BST

    Barra Best
    BBC News NI weather presenter

    Today could be the hottest May day on record across the island of Ireland, with temperatures rising towards 30C.

    The highest temperatures are expected across Munster and south Leinster, according to Irish weather service Met Éireann.

    In its national forecast it has said that highest temperatures will generally range from 23C to 29C or 30C.

    It comes after yesterday’s record-breaking 28.6C at Shannon Airport - already the hottest May temperature ever recorded on the island of Ireland.

    That surpassed the previous record of 28.4C, recorded in County Kerry in 1997.

  19. Teenage boy dies after getting into difficulty in West Yorkshire reservoir, police saypublished at 08:42 BST

    A 13-year-old boy has died after getting into difficulty while in a reservoir in Halifax, Yorkshire, on Monday, West Yorkshire Police say.

    In a statement, the force says its officers were called to Leadbeater Dam on Lumb Lane at 15:18 BST.

    "The body of a 13-year-old boy was pulled from the water. He was taken to hospital and was sadly pronounced dead," they say.

    "Enquiries are ongoing by Calderdale CID, however there aren’t believed to be any suspicious circumstances."

  20. Europe sees historic heatwave that could reach 40C this weekpublished at 08:32 BST

    Simon King
    Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

    A heat map showing that most of Europe is 8-15C above average in temperature

    This heatwave has seen temperatures 8 to 15 degrees above the May average for much of western Europe over the last few days.

    On Monday hundreds of localities across France broke monthly records as temperatures soared to 32 to 37C.

    And by Friday, the temperature could reach a peak at 40C in south-west France which would be unprecedented for May.

    Spain, Germany and Switzerland and northern Italy have also seen exceptional May temperatures this week.