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Record-breaking heat has rewritten May temperature records across the UK.

Record-breaking heat has rewritten May temperature records across the UK.


This resulted in a surprising number of station records being broken, reflecting not only the intensity of the heat during the day but also the persistence of unusually warm conditions overnight.

Updated figures show this was a widespread national incident affecting broadcasters across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in some cases exceeded long-standing records that had stood for decades. Places with long observation records for more than 150 years, such as Oxford and Armagh, also broke record records, proving the historic nature of this event.

A total of 23 stations broke the UK May temperature record of 32.8°C, set in 1922 and 1944.

New highest May temperature station record

During this heat wave, daytime temperatures reached particularly notable levels, with many stations recording their highest daily maximum temperatures on record for May.

One of the most notable values ​​was recorded at Kew Gardens in Greater London, where temperatures reached 35.1°C, exceeding the previous station record of 29.3°C and the previous UK May record of 32.8°C. This reflects the exceptional nature of the heat, with more typical mid-summer values ​​observed in late spring.

Numerous stations across southern and central England recorded temperatures exceeding 30°C. Counties including Oxfordshire, Surrey, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire all recorded new highs in the low and mid 30s. In total, 163 stations broke records for the highest temperature in May. For example, temperatures reached 33.4°C in Oxford and 33.8°C in Weasley, both beating long-standing records from the mid-20th century.

Read more: Deep dive: How unusual is heat?

Further north the heat was still evident. Observatories in Durham and Morpeth recorded new records with values ​​of 29.7°C and 27.7°C respectively. Areas normally affected by cooler ocean conditions, such as Cromer in Norfolk (32.0°C) and Boulmer in Northumberland (24.8°C), also recorded new May highs.

Most of the previous records of excess date back several decades, and are particularly concentrated in the 1940s and 1950s. For example, the previous benchmark for 24 districts, including Ross-on-Wye, Goudhurst and Leeming, was set during the notable warm periods of 1944 and 1947. The oldest highest temperature record to be broken was 33.3°C at the University of Reading, exceeding the 28.9°C set on May 22, 1918. Breaking a record that has stood for more than 100 years shows just how exceptional this recent event is. A climate attribution study published by Met Office scientists last summer found that climate change caused by human greenhouse gas emissions is increasing the chances of May temperatures being surpassed on record.

The study found that breaking the May record of 32.8°C set in 1922 and 1944 would be about three times higher in the current climate than in a natural climate unaffected by greenhouse gas emissions. What used to be an incident once every 100 years has now become an incident once every 33 years.

You can read the full study in the Royal Meteorological Society journal Weather.

New May lowest temperature station record

The UK has experienced unusually warm nights alongside exceptional heat during the day, with many stations recording their highest May minimum temperatures on record. A total of 14 stations broke the previous record of 18.9°C at Folkstone in 1947. In total, 99 stations broke the record for lowest temperature in May.

Temperatures remained particularly high overnight in some areas. A notable example was Camborne in Cornwall, where temperatures never fell below 21.4°C, setting a new British record and marking May’s “tropical night”. This means temperatures remained above 20°C throughout the night, a phenomenon rarely seen in the UK at this time of year.

Other stations also recorded very high temperatures overnight. For example, 21.3°C was recorded at Kenley Airfield in Greater London, and 20.9°C was observed at Emley Moor in West Yorkshire, up 4.5°C and 6°C respectively from previous records. Many areas across southern England, including Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon, recorded lows of 10 degrees or higher.

Read more: How surface observation networks can improve our understanding of weather and climate

Temperatures also rose noticeably overnight in northern regions. Stations such as Durham, Ryhill in West Yorkshire and Dyce in Aberdeenshire recorded new record low temperatures despite the generally cool climate. In Orkney and northern Scotland, absolute temperatures remained lower than further south, but minimum values ​​still exceeded previous May records.

Many of the previous record low temperatures were relatively recent, often from the 2000s and 2010s. But some long-standing records from the mid-20th century were also exceeded. The oldest recorded minimum temperature was 16.3°C at Rothamsted, Hertfordshire, exceeding the previous record of 15.6°C set on 9 May 1945, further highlighting the unusual nature of the event.

Combination of day and night heat

What makes this event especially noteworthy is the combination of very high daytime temperatures and continued warm nights. Typically in spring, nighttime temperatures drop enough to provide some stability even in warm weather. This has limited cooling in many parts of the UK.

The breaking of both high and low temperature records suggests a long period of intense warmth. The persistence of heat was a key factor as temperatures continued to rise over several days and nights.

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Sources

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2/ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/record-breaking-heat-rewrites-may-temperature-records-across-the-uk

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