How’re you handling the recent heat? It feels as if we spend months complaining about rain, drizzle and grey skies across the UK and then, just like that, we’re thrown into the furnace, strangers’ sweat dripping on us as we fan our way about our daily business on public transport.
At the time of writing, Wednesday 27 May, the UK is in the grip of a sweltering spring heatwave. On Monday 25 May, the hottest ever May temperature was recorded at Kew Gardens, London, where it rose to a scorching 34.8°C. However, things got even hotter the following day, when temperatures at Kew Gardens rose to 35.1°C. Both temperatures beat the previous May record of 32.8°C, which was set in 1922 and 1944.
Temperatures are set to ease off over the coming days, but not before a few more peak temperatures in the 30s down south.
So, is the recent heat a sign of things to come? Why does the UK heat feel hotter? Is summer 2026 set to be the sweatiest one in living memory? Or is this the ‘false summer’ Brits have become all too familiar with in recent years?
To get to the bottom of what’s happening right now, and if we should have our paddling pools and fans at the ready, we spoke to Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesman:
Hampstead Heath, LondonGetty Images
Is the UK in for its hottest summer on record?
“It’s simply not possible to predict a precise peak temperature for the UK this summer. While the recent warm weather has been provisionally record-breaking for May, this doesn’t impact the likely conditions through summer as a whole. Just small changes in the weather can lead to significantly different conditions throughout the summer. So while we can say that we obviously expect further warm weather at points during the summer, it’s not possible to say exactly where or when.”
Why has this May been so hot?
“What’s behind this is an area of high pressure sitting over the UK. This is allowing heat to build day-by-day with little in the way of cloud or rain disrupting things, though it has resulted in a chance of some thunderstorms developing for a small number of people this afternoon.”
What’s your advice for Brits struggling with the heat?
“If someone is struggling in the heat, they should follow NHS advice. This means drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of the Sun during the peak of the heat and trying to plan any activities in cooler parts of the day.”
