First Heat Wave of the Year Hits Parts of Britain

Large parts of Britain experienced their first heat wave of the year on Monday. Forecasters warned of record-breaking temperatures for May, possibly reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in areas of England.

The Met Office, Britain’s official weather service, reported that temperatures could exceed May’s previous record of 32.8 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) set in 1944. The heat was described as “unprecedented for the time of year,” as temperature records usually break by small margins.

The heat wave developed throughout the week, culminating over the weekend, particularly affecting England and Wales. On Saturday, southeast England saw temperatures reach 30.5 degrees Celsius (86.9 degrees Fahrenheit). Such high May temperatures were last seen in 2012.

By Sunday, eight locations in southeast England had reached heat wave criteria, recording three consecutive days of temperatures over local thresholds. In Britain, an official heat wave requires at least three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding local criteria, unlike the broader definition used by the U.S. National Weather Service.

Sources from the University of Maine Climate Change Institute and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System provided data indicating forecast temperatures for Monday, showing degrees above or below average for May 25. This information highlights the significant deviation from average temperature, underscoring the unusual heat conditions.