Temperatures in York could hit 33 degrees Celsius today

The Met Office is forecasting highs in York of 33 degrees Celsius, which will be matched in Selby, and moving towards the coast thermometers will be hitting 32 degrees in Easingwold, 31 degrees in Helmsley and Malton and 30 degrees Celsius in Whitby.

It comes after the UK saw its hottest day in May for at least 79 years on Sunday with a high of 32.3C at Kew Gardens in south-west London.

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As reported by The Press yesterday, ice-cream vendors were enjoying a good weekend of trade in King’s Staith as the temperature gauges hit 31 degrees.

Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, told the Press Association: “We rarely see temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (C), even in the summer months, so to see temperatures getting close to 35C in May is, as I say, pretty historic.”

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A yellow heat alert is in place for York, Yorkshire and The Humber until 5pm on Wednesday.

The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), means there could be a significant impact across health and social care services, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

The heat is considered to be dangerous for some vulnerable groups including older adults as their bodies struggle to regulate temperature.

Age UK recommends staying inside during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 3pm, and having regular cold baths or showers.

Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “We can all help older people stay safe during periods of hot weather by checking in on older relatives, friends and neighbours to see if they need anything or are struggling with the heat.

“Offering to pick up shopping or medication, or even lending a fan, can make a real difference.”

Wales and Northern Ireland also reached 2026 record temperatures of 27.4C in Cardiff and 23.4C in Armagh on Sunday.

Scotland saw highs of 23.5C in Edinburgh on Sunday, just below the current record of 23.6C recorded in Aboyne on May 1.

The Met Office said heatwave conditions were met in eight parts of England on Sunday – Heathrow in Greater London, Benson in Oxfordshire, Brooms Barn in Suffolk, High Beech in Essex, Kew Gardens in London, Northolt in London, Santon Downham in Suffolk and Writtle in Essex.

Although Monday is set to be hot for many parts of England, north-west Scotland will be breezier and damper with thicker clouds.

Saturday was the first time this year that the UK had passed 30C and Sunday saw the hottest recorded May temperature since 1947.