Summary

  1. Homes in Kent still without water after days of disruptionpublished at 14:18 BST

    A man in a high-vis yellow jacket unloads bottled water on a crate
    Image caption,

    A delivery of bottled water in Challock, Kent

    Dozens of homes in Kent have been left with little or no water for the third day as the hot weather continues.

    The outages began on Saturday and peaked on Sunday when about 800 properties in the villages of Charing, Challock and Molash were unable to get water.

    South East Water (SEW) says teams are working hard to restore drinking water supplies across the region following "high demand during the exceptionally hot weather", which led to "storage reservoirs running low in parts of Kent".

    The company says it is having to pump more water than usual to higher ground due to this demand, and customers in these areas may experience low pressure or supply interruptions, especially at peak use times.

    A SEW spokesperson adds:

    • Around 64 properties in the Radfall area of Whitstable are experiencing low pressure or no water as a pump has failed
    • Fewer than 20 properties on higher ground in the Ulcombe area of Kent are also experiencing ongoing water supply problems
    • Repairs have also been carried out on a burst water main in the Decoy Drive area of Eastbourne, where water should now be returning to 168 properties
  2. Struggling to sleep? Look no furtherpublished at 14:07 BST

    With Kenley in London experiencing the warmest May night on record - at 21.3C - and similarly balmy conditions felt more widely across the UK, we've compiled some handy tips to make sleeping a little more bearable.

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  3. Cruise passengers delighted by sunshine in Shetlandpublished at 13:54 BST

    Cameron Angus-Mackay
    Reporting from Shetland

    People in Shetland are pleased to see a brighter day after a run of cold and cloudy weather.

    It's only 11C in Lerwick, but the sun is bringing people out for lunch around the harbour.

    The town feels quite busy this afternoon because of two large cruise ships. Tourists are stopping to photograph island scenery and popping into local shops.

    Belgian couple Claudia and Thierry are on a 12-day cruise. "We have 30C back home, but when we set off on the boat it was raining, raining, raining," they say.

    Cruise passengers Claudia and Thierry stand together in Shetland wearing a number of layers despite the sun still shining
    Image caption,

    Claudia and Thierry

  4. Surrey pub offering free sun protection to customers sitting in gardenpublished at 13:41 BST

    Joe Coughlan
    Live reporter

    Two bottles of suncream on a table with a chalk sign saying: "Please help yourself to suncream."Image source, Eanna Hermbusche

    Staff at the Grantley Arms pub in Wonersh are offering free sunscreen for those in their garden.

    Eanna Hermbusche, the Surrey pub's general manager, tells me that the initiative started last year after management ordered a bulk amount of sunscreen for the staff - before deciding to offer the surplus to patrons.

    "In the outside areas we have got cutlery stations, so we put a few bottles on those and people can help themselves," Eanna adds.

    He says the offering has spread locally through word of mouth, with parents appreciating the extra protection for their children during school holidays.

    "It's been received very positively. People are very gracious of the fact it's being given out for free as everything costs money these days," Eanna says.

  5. 'We're from Utah but the heat is worse here'published at 13:30 BST

    Kieran Kelly and Maddie Lake
    Reporting from Regent's Park

    Alyssa McCave, 19, Jayda Masina, 23, and Autumn Cook, 21, three women from the United States, pose for a photograph in Regent's Park, London
    Image caption,

    Alyssa McCave, 19, Jayda Masina, 23, and Autumn Cook, 21, are visiting London during the heatwave (L-R)

    In Regent's Park, we bumped into three people who are all too familiar with stifling heat.

    Autumn Cook, 21, and Jayda Masina, 23, are from Utah, while Alyssa McCave, 19, is from Texas in the United States.

    Both states experience intense heat, but Jayda and Autumn tell us that the current UK heatwave is "way worse".

    Autumn says the "lack of air conditioning" is a "big" problem, while Jayda adds that more air conditioning would make the heatwave more "tolerable".

    While they described the heat as "inconvenient", they told us they had still enjoyed their time in London.

    Prickly pear cacti in the sandstone landscape along the trail to the Bowtie and Corona Arch near Moab, Utah, United States.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Temperatures in Moab, Utah - close to where this picture was taken last year - are expected to reach 24C today (75F)

  6. How unusual is this heat?published at 13:21 BST

    Mark Poynting
    Climate reporter

    It can be easy to forget just how quickly the UK’s climate is changing.

    Days exceeding 30C (86F) - known as “very hot” days by the Met Office - might feel normal, but they used to be much rarer.

    During the last decade, the number of these “very hot” days more than trebled compared with the 1961-1990 average, according to the Met Office.

    These temperatures are especially rare in May.

    The Met Office says that 30C has been reached in May in only a handful of years since 1900.

    And yesterday's provisional high of 34.8C is simply unprecedented in May since records began, smashing the previous high by a full 2C.

    The UK’s weather varies a lot naturally, so new records won’t fall every year.

    But this early season heat is consistent with the long-term trend of rising temperatures because of human-caused climate change.

    Line graph titled “How much hotter could it get?” showing change in average global temperature relative to 1850–1900. The horizontal axis runs from 1950 to 2100, and the vertical axis ranges from about -1°C to 5°C. A grey line shows observed temperatures rising to just over 1°C above the baseline by around 2020. From there, several coloured lines project future scenarios: the highest (orange) reaches close to 5°C by 2100 under intensive fossil fuel use, while lower lines (purple, blue, and green) show smaller increases, with the lowest reaching around 1.5°C–2°C under more sustainable pathways. Labels highlight “Observed temperatures,” “Future with intensive fossil fuel use,” and “Future based on sustainability,” with a bracket noting “Different possible scenarios.” Source cited as IPCC 2021, with a BBC logo at the bottom.
  7. Much of England and Wales in an 'official' heatwavepublished at 13:11 BST

    Simon King
    Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

    For an official heatwave to be declared, a location has to reach a threshold temperature for three days in a row. That's 25C for northern and western areas of the UK up to 28C in London and the Home Counties.

    Greater London, Surrey, East and West Sussex and parts of Essex and Suffolk are now up to their fourth or fifth consecutive day.

    Elsewhere, with temperatures this afternoon now exceeding the threshold for the third day in a row, we can now confirm that much of England and Wales is in an official heatwave.

    Map shows Ireland and the UK. It highlights parts of England and Wales that are in an official heatwave.
  8. Increase in hospital admissions during latest heatwave, says NHS urgent care doctorpublished at 12:54 BST

    Malu Cursino
    Live reporter

    Group of women holding lightbulb and plug socket propsImage source, Ron Fassbender
    Image caption,

    For Powell and others who are part of Mothers Rise Up, a shift to renewable energy (like solar) is the only way to "stop making the problem worse"

    An NHS urgent care doctor tells the BBC she's seen an increase in the number of patients being admitted to her east London hospital during the current heatwave.

    Dr Lorna Powell, who is also co-director of climate action group Mothers Rise Up, says she and her colleagues are seeing more older patients with complex health needs requiring treatment. These patients can struggle to regulate their body temperatures - making it difficult to stay cool during heatwaves.

    Even without other health issues, extreme heat takes a toll on all of us. That's because "your body has to work overtime to keep you cool and maintain a stable core temperature", Powell explains.

    We also become dehydrated more easily in high temperatures, and our blood vessels dilate putting an additional strain on the heart.

    Higher-than-normal temperatures are becoming more frequent due to human-induced climate change. To mitigate the health impacts, Dr Powell says we should adapt our homes to extreme heat and educate people about how they can stay safe.

    Elsewhere, Stuart Crichton, director of 999 operations at London Ambulance Service, told BBC London yesterday was the service's "busiest day in the last 12 months as we get into the amber heat warning".

  9. Amber health alert issued for south-west Englandpublished at 12:41 BST

    Newquay beachImage source, BBC Weather Watchers / Jojo
    Image caption,

    Newquay beach in Cornwall - an area now under an amber alert for heat

    The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert for south-west England, bringing the number of amber alerts during the heatwave to six.

    Amber alerts were earlier issued for much of England, including the West Midlands, East Midlands, east of England, south east and London regions, all scheduled to expire at 17:00 on Thursday.

    The alert indicates an increase in the likelihood of deaths, particularly among people over 65. It also warns of an increased demand on health and social care services, and demand for power exceeding capacity.

    Yellow alerts are also in place for the north east, north west and Yorkshire and the Humber until Thursday.

  10. Temperature climbs to 32.2C at Heathrowpublished at 12:30 BST
    Breaking

    Elizabeth Rizzini
    Lead weather presenter

    Marazion, Cornwall, earlier todayImage source, BBC Weather Watchers / silverloon
    Image caption,

    Marazion, Cornwall, earlier today

    As the intense May heat ramps up again today, we have the latest temperatures in from 12:00.

    In Heathrow in London, the temperature has risen to 32.2C.

    Meanwhile the weather station at Camborne in Cornwall has just recorded 28.8C, passing not just its May record, but its June highest temperature record too.

    It's significant that the June record has been broken, as it is typically warmer in June than in May.

    Here are some of the previous records set in Camborne:

    • The previous May record was 24.5C in 1990 - but it's been broken for three days straight as of today
    • June's previous highest temperature record was 27.7C, set in 2017
    • Camborne's all-time maximum temperature is 30.4C
  11. How climate change makes hot weather more likelypublished at 12:25 BST

    Mark Poynting
    Climate reporter

    It’s well established that human-caused climate change is making hot weather more likely and more intense.

    As humans burn coal, oil and gas and cut down forests, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.

    These gases act like a blanket, causing the planet to heat up.

    And even a small increase in average temperatures makes a big difference to heat extremes.

    As the range of daily temperatures shifts to warmer levels, hotter days become more likely and more intense.

    Since the 1980s, the UK has been warming at about 0.25C per decade – and 2025 was the UK’s hottest year ever recorded, the Met Office says.

    Infographic titled “A small shift makes a big difference,” showing how a small rise in average temperature increases the likelihood of extreme heat. A probability curve compares a dashed line for the “Previous climate” with a solid red curve for the “New climate,” shifted to the right. The horizontal axis runs from “Cold” to “Average” to “Hot,” while the vertical axis is labelled “Probability.” On the left, a blue shaded area illustrates “Less cold weather.” On the right, a larger red shaded area shows “More hot weather,” with a darker section highlighting “Extreme hot weather.” The graphic emphasises that even a small shift in average temperature leads to a significant increase in hot and extreme heat events. Source: US EPA, with a BBC logo at the bottom.
  12. Today could be another record breaker - here's what to know at lunchtimepublished at 12:11 BST

    Dan Woodland
    Live reporter

    Tower Bridge is pictured from the bank of the river Thames on a sunny dayImage source, Getty Images

    It's set to be another exceptionally hot day across much of England and Wales, with forecasts of up to 35C in the south-east, which if reached would beat Monday's May temperature record of 34.8C. Here's what you need to know:

    We'll continue to bring you the latest as the temperature continues to rise.

  13. 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 and 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
  14. 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.

    Media caption,

    Grass fire breaks out near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh

  15. 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
  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. 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

  19. 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.

  20. 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