Hot weather to intensify in UK over bank holiday weekend

It’s likely that the first heatwaves of 2026 will be declared on Sunday as a number of areas are expected to reach their third day above the heatwave threshold, including in London and the south-east, as well as Cardiff.

Locally in the south Midlands and south-east England, it could hit 30C on Sunday, which would be relatively rare for May.

Days exceeding 30C – known as “very hot” days by the Met Office – used to be much rarer.

During the last decade, the number of these “very hot” days more than trebled compared with the 1961-1990 average, according to the Met Office.

The last time it reached 30C in May was in 2012.

Meanwhile, the cloud that has been lurking across southern Scotland and Northern Ireland should clear and whilst not as hot it will at least be sunny.