Britain has experienced its hottest May on record with temperatures reaching 33.5C at Heathrow Airport. The Met Office confirmed this new high, surpassing the previous May record of 32.8C that stood for over 80 years.
The extreme heatwave across much of England has led to yellow and amber heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warning of added pressure on health services and risks to vulnerable individuals, especially those aged 65 and over or with underlying health conditions.
Experts attribute the likelihood of breaking temperature records to climate change, with a study showing that surpassing historical temperature records has become more frequent due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Forecasters predict temperatures to climb even higher on Tuesday, with highs of 35C expected in London, the Home Counties, and Cambridgeshire. Across eastern Wales and eastern, southern, and central England, temperatures are forecasted to exceed 30C away from coastal areas.
The public is advised to stay informed about the developing situation and follow precautionary measures to stay safe during this period of unusually high temperatures.