Temperatures in the UK may reach 30C during the bank holiday weekend, marking a potential heatwave. Heat health alerts are in effect from May 22 to May 27 across parts of the Midlands and south-east England.
Key points
Temperatures may reach 30C in the UK
Heat health alerts issued by UKHSA
Alerts valid from May 22 to May 27
Warmest weather of the year expected
30C would be the earliest in over 70 years
Temperatures are forecast to rise as high as 30C in parts of the UK as a potential heatwave develops across the long bank holiday weekend.
Heat health alerts, external have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) across much of the Midlands and south-east England valid from 09:00 Friday 22 May until 17:00 Wednesday 27 May.
The mercury is set to creep up each day for the remainder of the week before the warmest weather of the year so far settles in.
If readings reach 30C before Monday, it will be the earliest date this has happened in the UK for over 70 years.
Woman stands in the sunshine beneath a pink cherry blossom tree in a sea of yellow daffodilsImage source, Yui Mok/PA Wire
Image caption,
The warmest day of 2026 so far was back on 8 April where temperatures in London reached an unseasonably high 26.6C
Where will there be a heatwave and how long will it last?
A heatwave in the UK is defined by the Met Office as at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures exceeding a county-specific threshold, reflecting a sustained spell of unusually hot weather.
The heatwave threshold temperature varies across the UK. In Greater London it is 28C whereas in Northern Ireland and Scotland it is 25C.
It is likely that a few places could meet the heatwave definition during Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At the moment, areas such as London and the south Midlands are most likely to see this.
With the unseasonable warmth expected to continue into Tuesday and beyond, more parts of England and Wales could experience a heatwave after the bank holiday weekend.
Q&A
What temperatures are expected in the UK during the bank holiday weekend?
Temperatures are forecast to rise as high as 30C in parts of the UK.
What areas in the UK are under heat health alerts?
Heat health alerts have been issued for much of the Midlands and south-east England.
When do the heat health alerts start and end?
The heat health alerts are valid from 09:00 on May 22 until 17:00 on May 27.
When was the last time the UK reached 30C in May?
If temperatures reach 30C before Monday, it will be the earliest date this has happened in the UK for over 70 years.
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Three colour temperature maps of the UK showing a range of maximum temperatures. On the left, Saturday temperatures showing 14-28 Celsius. In the centre, Sunday temperatures show 13-29 Celsius. On the right, Monday temperatures showing 14-30 Celsius.
Image caption,
Maximum temperatures forecast for Saturday to Monday
Even in places where a heatwave isn't likely, it still looks warm over the long weekend, with temperatures for most between 20-26C.
As early as Friday afternoon, temperatures are expected to reach up to 28C in south-east England.
However, there remains uncertainty about how long the warm spell will last.
The most likely scenario is for heatwave conditions to hold on until at least the middle of next week, with a change to something a little cooler and more unsettled from Thursday onward.
Why is it getting so much hotter?
The main reason for the warmer weather is a change in the wind direction.
The jet stream will shift north this weekend allowing warmer southerly winds to bring hot air from southern Europe and north Africa.
It will feel very different compared to last week when cold winds were blowing from the north.
It is rare to see temperatures up to 30C in the UK during the month of May. The last time this happened was back in 2012 in Scotland.
For England, this potential heatwave could bring the first May 30C since 2005. If we reach 30 Celsius before Monday, this will be the earliest 30C since 1952.
Map of UK and north-west Europe coloured with orange and red shades with arrows indicating the flow of southerly air moving north around high pressure to the east.
Image caption,
High pressure developing to the east will draw hotter air north across the UK
Rain to ease after recent downpours
Following downpours for many over the past week, the rain is finally set to ease.
It comes after spring rainfall had been exceptionally low for southern and eastern England up until the start of May. Some places in south-east England have only had around a third of their expected spring rainfall so far.
Wednesday still brings the chance of a few showers, almost anywhere, but they will be less frequent than recent days and temperatures will reach around 21C.
Most parts of England and Wales will stay dry on Thursday and Friday, whilst further showers may affect Scotland and Northern Ireland at times.
