UK weather live: Met Office forecasts 33C heatwave as amber heat alerts issued

Cancer Research UK has urged people to enjoy the sun safely by covering up and using sunscreen.

Its most recent data, from 2022, shows there were 20,980 new cases of melanoma – the highest number it has ever seen.

New analysis from the charity also suggests that the number of people diagnosed with melanoma could reach 26,500 a year by 2040.

In its outlook for Wednesday, May 27, to Friday, June 5, the Met Office says: “With high pressure expected to remain in place for much of the UK, fine weather and light winds are likely to continue for most places.

“Although perhaps not as warm as the start of the week, temperatures will still be warm or very warm inland, but it will feel cooler near the coast, especially with an onshore breeze.

“Some patchy rain may affect the far northwest at times, with perhaps a few showers in the far south.”

As a reminder, weather forecasts are less accurate beyond seven days.

While the Met Office expects highs of 33C in some parts of south-east England on Monday, weather modelling maps suggest the hot spell will not last.

Temperature anomaly maps show areas of deep blue across the UK, particularly in Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Midlands and eastern England, indicating where temperatures are expected to fall well below seasonal averages.

Minimum temperature maps suggest the mercury could drop to as low as -1C in Scotland at around 6am.

It is currently 27C in parts of London ahead of what is expected to be a “very warm, if not hot” bank holiday weekend for England and Wales.

Aidan McGivern, a senior weather presenter at the Met Office, outlines how the next few days are expected to develop in a video posted by the national weather service on X.

As a reminder, it is important to never leave anyone – especially babies, young children or animals – in a closed, parked vehicle, as vehicles can heat up very quickly in warm weather.

A childs body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s, the Columbia University Irving Medical Centre notes. In the United States, around 40 children die each year in hot vehicles – roughly one every nine days, according to Kids and Car Safety.

The charity also reports that 86 per cent of children who have died in these incidents were aged three or under.

The Met Office offers the following advice on how to stay safe during a heatwave:

• Look out for people who may struggle to keep cool and hydrated
• Older people, those with underlying health conditions and people living alone are particularly at risk
• Close curtains in rooms facing the sun to help keep heat out
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals
• Try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when UV rays are strongest
• Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat if you need to go outside in the heat
• Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day
• Take water with you when travelling, as journeys can take longer than expected
• Keep up to date with the latest weather forecast and any extreme heat warnings

The NHS identifies the main health risks posed by a heatwave as:

• Dehydration caused by not drinking enough water
• Overheating, which can worsen symptoms for people with heart or breathing problems
• Heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which are potentially serious conditions caused by becoming too hot

The Met Office has updated its UK weather outlook this afternoon.

In its outlook for Saturday, the national weather service says: “A largely sunny day, although northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland and some western coasts elsewhere often cloudier with some patchy drizzle. Another very warm day for most.”

Its outlook for Sunday to Tuesday reads: “Dry and settled with plenty of sunshine, although the far northwest cloudier with some rain at times. Feeling very warm or hot by day with potentially warm nights too.”

Temperatures are expected to reach 32C on Sunday. Areas of deep red on the map below shows where temperatures will rise well above the seasonal average.

There could be more “very warm” conditions next week.

The Met Office forecast for May 27 to June 5 states: “With high pressure expected to remain in place for much of the UK, fine weather and light winds are likely to continue for most places.

“Although perhaps not as warm as the start of the week, temperatures will still be warm or very warm inland, but it will feel cooler near the coast, especially with an onshore breeze. Some patchy rain may affect the far northwest at times, with perhaps a few showers in the far south.”

Temperatures are expected to soar this weekend in what looks to be the hottest days of the year so far. Here’s how hot it could get:

Maps from WXCharts show the heatwave is set to carry on into Tuesday with London and areas to west of the capital set to sizzle at up to 33C.

The forecast predicts the temperature at 6pm with large parts of the country around that area reaching up to 30C.

Brits have flocked to beaches and seafronts today as the UK basks in the hottest day of the year so far. Crowds have been pictured soaking up the sunshine at Southend-on-Sea while others were seen sunbathing in Dover, Kent.

A temperature of 26.9C has been recorded at Heathrow this afternoon, officially making today the warmest day of 2026 so far.

Previously, the warmest day this year was on April 8, when temperature rose to 26.6C at London’s Kew Gardens.

Temperatures are set to rise even further today.

The Met Office has warned Brits not to forget their sun cream this weekend, with UV levels expected to be moderate to high across parts of the UK.

Cities including Leeds, London and Exeter are set for elevated UV levels in the coming days.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has warned against the use of disposable barbecues over the coming days.

Assistant commissioner Paul McCourt says there will be a heightened risk of wildfires in London, according to an assessment from the Met Office’s Natural Hazards Partnership. The LFB has advised people to avoid using disposable barbecues and to be careful about how they dispose of cigarettes as a result.

The heightened comes from “wetter-than-usual” weather, which has allowed vegetation to grow, followed by “one of the driest Aprils on record”, McCourt said.

Temperatures in the UK could peak at 33C over the bank holiday weekend. It means parts of the country will be hotter and drier than areas of the Mediterranean and North Africa, reports the BBC.

Hot, humid air is pushing across north-west Europe, while colder air is affecting the south-east of Europe, including Greece and Turkey.

Network Rail has issued guidance for anyone travelling by train in areas facing blistering temperatures in the coming days.

They have advised that commuters check before travelling and allow more time for journeys, carry water bottles, which can be filled up at fountains at big stations and avoid boarding trains if feeling unwell.

Southern Railway has said trains are likely to be busier than usual, “particularly on routes to coastal destinations”.

A yellow heat health alert is issued when adverse weather is likely to affect vulnerable groups. An amber alert means weather conditions could impact the entire population or the NHS, with travel disruption likely.

Yellow alert risks: Risks include a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, as well as an increased demand on health and social care services and heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services.

Amber alert risks: The same risks as above stand for places under amber alerts, but further warnings include issues managing medicines, an increased demand for power that exceeds capacity and travel delays. The current alerts have been given a risk of 12, meaning there’s a 60-89% likelihood of these impacts.

A map shows where amber and yellow heat health alerts have been issued in the UK

Regions that have been upgraded from yellow to amber warnings include the East Midlands, West Midlands, East England, London and South East England.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded the heat health alert from yellow to amber.

Affected regions include the Midlands, eastern and south-east England. Yellow alerts, in place from now until 5pm on Wednesday, have also come into force for south-west England and across northern England.

The Bank Holiday weekend will see an exceptional spell of warmth for the rest of May as the UK braces for a heatwave, the Met Office says in its latest forecast.

Temperatures began to rise yesterday, with high pressure bringing more settled conditions and clear skies for many acorss the country.

The exception will be parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland where it will be cooler and cloudier with some rain at times, the forecaster said.

Brits up and down the country will be preparing to make the most of the sun this bank holiday weekend, but with thousands expected to flock to public transport networks, it’s important to stay safe and keep cool while travelling.

The Met Office recommends carrying water and drinking lots of fluids. Commuters who feel unwell should get off at the next stop for some fresh air.

“Dress light, choose light fabrics in light colours,” the guidance adds. For anyone struggling, use ice packs/cold compresses to wrists, neck, elbows to help them cool down quickly. A small hand-held battery fan is also recommended during heatwaves.

A series of heat health alerts have been issued by the Government’s UKHSA as the country braces for a bank holiday heatwave with blistering highs of 33C.

The agency has issued yellow warnings for London, the South East, the East of England and the Midlands starting from 9am today.

The alerts mean people need to be aware of “minor impacts” including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, greater risk to life of vulnerable people and increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm.

You can read the full story here.

Highs of 27C are expected across parts of the southeast and the East Midlands today, with London, Cambridge, Nottingham and Lincoln among the areas set to enjoy the warmest weather, according to the Met Office.

Much of England and Wales will see largely sunny skies throughout the day, although some low clould could affect western coastal areas at times.

Further north, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to be cloudier, with occasional rain mixed in with sunny spells.

While reaching 30C in May is rare, the UK has experienced some high temperatures during the month. Records of the hottest May days provide further insight into how marked late spring heat can become when conditions align.

According to the Met Offic the highest temperatures recorded in May is 32.8C, with several notable occurrences. These include readings at Camden Square and Greenwich in Greater London during May 1922, as well as across parts of southeast England including Tunbridge Wells and Horsham during late May 1944.

Other significant hot days include temperatures of around 32.2C recorded at Camden Square on 31 May 1947, and 31.7C recorded at Heathrow and Farnham on 25 May 1953. Most of these highest temperatures are concentrated in southern and southeastern England, where proximity to continental Europe and generally lower cloud cover increases the likelihood of warmth during settled conditions.