UK heatwave expected Sunday as May temperatures near record

A heatwave is expected to be declared for parts of the UK on Sunday as unusually high May temperatures continue.

A reading of 30.5C at Frittenden in Kent on Saturday was the highest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year. Forecasters say new national May records could be set on the bank holiday Monday.

The Met Office heat-health amber alert remains in place for parts of the Midlands and eastern England until at least Wednesday. The tourism and hospitality sectors have welcomed the sunny weather, but health officials have warned of risks for vulnerable people.

Heatwave thresholds vary by region. The Met Office sets the bar at 25C for Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of Wales and northern England. Most other parts of England and south-east Wales use 26C or 27C. London, the home counties and Cambridgeshire use 28C. The threshold must be reached or exceeded on three consecutive days.

Saturday marked the earliest date the UK has reached 30C since 1952. Temperatures are forecast to climb further across England and Wales on Monday, raising the chance of breaking the current May record of 32.8C, set in 1944 at Tunbridge Wells, Horsham and Central London. Some forecasts show parts of south-east England could exceed 33C.

Night-time temperatures could also set a record if any location stays above the 18.9C recorded in Folkestone on the night of 30-31 May 1947.

Some areas of England and Wales may remain above heatwave criteria for most of the week. The UK has seen four or five days above 30C in May only rarely, but that total is possible this week.

The Met Office has linked the increased frequency of such hot spells to climate change. Its State of the UK Climate report shows the number of days above 28C has more than doubled and the number above 30C has more than trebled in the most recent decade compared with the 1961-1990 average.