'Historic' UK heatwave could see 35C smashing all-time records on Bank Holiday Monday

View 5 Images

Brits are basking in an ‘exceptional’ heatwave with Bank Holiday Monday promising a blistering 35C - the hottest day in May of all time.

The UK saw the hottest day of the year in 74 years on Sunday when Kew Gardens hit 30.9C. But on Monday temperatures will continue to climb, as forecasters predict records could be smashed today (Monday).

The current all-time record for May of 32.8C (91F) was set on the late Bank Holiday in 1944 at Regent's Park, Horsham, and Tunbridge. Wells But meteorologists say Greater London and regions up to Cambridge may see up to 35C on Monday, while Barbados sees a milder 29C.

The Met Office declared on Sunday afternoon that official heatwave conditions had been met in eight parts of England. The first to meet the criteria was Heathrow in Greater London with 30C but this was followed by 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.

View 5 Images

The Met Office says heatwaves are extreme weather events, but research shows that climate change is making these events more likely.

"We rarely see temperatures above 35C, even in the summer months, so to see temperatures getting close to 35 in May is, as I say, pretty historic," a spokesperson told Sky News. They added that overnight temperatures could also lead to records being broken, staying above 20C and making it "uncomfortable for sleeping".

They say a UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies by UK county, see the UK temperature threshold map below.

View 5 Images

Temperatures were so high the owners of Lord’s cricket ground, the MCC, relaxed their rule requiring gentlemen to wear jackets in the pavilion for two Vitality Blast matches on Sunday. Drinks breaks were also given at Premier League games and the Championship playoff finals.

Met Office meteorologist, Tom Morgan, said: "Record breaking temperatures for May are forecast in the next few days and it’s likely some people will see an exceptional heatwave for the time of year. ...For the bulk of England and Wales, it’s blue skies and wall-to-wall sunshine.”

He said temperatures are ten degrees higher than is normal for this time of year.

View 5 Images

Met Office Deputy Chief forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: “Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33°C 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 32.8°C. “

Sky’s meteorologist Kirsty McCabe said that it's "quite likely at the moment that we're going to have the hottest May day on record, and potentially even the hottest bank holiday on record, hotter even than the August bank holiday".

"It really isn't common at all" for it to be so hot this month, she said, "which is why we're potentially going to be breaking some records".

"In May, for example, we've never had a tropical night. And that's when the temperatures stay above 20C all night.

Brits were warned to watch out for cold water shock if they were taking a dip in the hot weather. National Water Safety Forum warned "this is the most dangerous time of the year" to go into the water.

Swimmers were warned the water will still 'feel like winter'. The forum's chair, Professor Mike Tipton, told Sky News that while the air temperature has "shot up with the heatwave", the water temperature is still "very cold".

"It's around about 12 to 13C. And we know that water temperature evokes a cold shock response, gasping, hyperventilation (and a) sudden increase in the workload of the heart that accounts for about 60% of the deaths we see each year going into cold waters."

View 5 Images

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the East of England, London and the South East.

The alerts will remain in place until 5pm on Wednesday and replace less severe yellow alerts, which were previously issued.

The alerts mean there is likely to be “a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions” and increased demand on all health and social care services, according to the UKHSA website.

Yellow alerts have been issued for the North East and North West, Yorkshire and Humber, and the South West.

The less severe alert means significant impacts on health and social care services are possible.

The NHS warn of the risks during a heatwave including dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Certain groups are more at risk, including those aged 65 plus, babies and young children under five, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions.