It comes as the Met Office warned mercury could climb to 30C on Saturday, 32C by Sunday and a sweltering 33C on Monday for the May Bank Holiday, which could break the record for the hottest ever May temperature
A series of urgent health alerts have been issued across the UK as the nation braces for a potentially record-breaking Bank Holiday heatwave.
It comes as the Met Office has forecast temperatures of up to 33C in the coming days. On Saturday, the mercury could climb to 30C, with temperatures of 32C on Sunday, and a sweltering 33C on Monday. This would break the record for the hottest temperature recorded in May.
It has prompted the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue a string of yellow heat warnings from 9am today. With the temperatures rising, it says it poses a “greater risk to life” for vulnerable people.
Temperatures today are set to climb to around 27C today. The yellow heat alerts will last until 5pm on May 27, covering the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and the South East reports the Mirror.
The warning indicates that significant impacts are likely across health and social services, including heightened demand on healthcare services from vulnerable people, a greater risk to life for those most at risk, and an increased likelihood of indoor environments becoming dangerously warm.
Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan suggested a 40% chance the south of England could reach 33C on Sunday, breaking the current record for the hottest May (32.8C) recorded in Camden Square, London, back in 1922.
Temperatures throughout the weekend are anticipated to surpass heatwave thresholds — which range from 25C to 28C across different counties — for three consecutive days.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster, Steve Kocher, warned that as well as it being hot, Brits would see lots of dry and sunny weather across the country.
“Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32C on Sunday,” Kocher said. “Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.
“It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8C.
“As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK. There will however be more cloud and some showers in Northern Ireland and western Scotland through the weekend. With relatively low sea surface temperatures there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts.”
The British Red Cross has released advice aimed at helping the public remain safe as temperatures soar in the days ahead. Dafydd Beech, National Community Education Manager at the British Red Cross, said: “As we come into the summer months, warm weather gives us a chance to get out a bit more and enjoy ourselves.
“It’s important to take care while you have fun with friends and family to avoid becoming dehydrated, getting sun burn or even heat stroke.
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