Overview
- Temperatures rose on Friday to about 28.4°C at Heathrow, Cambridge and Cranwell, the highest readings so far this year and a precursor to the Bank Holiday heat.
- The Met Office expects widespread highs of 30–33°C across southern and central England with a small chance some models show temperatures near 35°C, putting May and spring records at risk.
- The UK Health Security Agency has active amber and yellow heat-health alerts for multiple English regions through 5pm on Wednesday, May 27, signalling likely increases in heat illness and extra demand on hospitals and social care.
- Public-health and animal-welfare bodies are urging simple precautions such as avoiding peak sun hours, staying hydrated, checking on older or unwell neighbours, and using the 'five-second' pavement test to protect dogs' paws.
- Forecast uncertainty rises beyond next week because medium-range models, notably ECMWF, show Atlantic fronts arriving around May 31–June 2 that could bring widespread rain and end or weaken the spell.