The UK has seen its warmest start to May on record as temperatures soared to over 29C in the spring sunshine.
The Met Office said 29.1C (84.3F) had been recorded in Chertsey, Surrey, passing the previous 1 May record of 27.4C (81.3F) set in Lossiemouth in 1990.
Earlier in the day, the mercury reached 28.6C (83.4F) at Kew Gardens in southwest London and Wisley in Surrey.
Thursday was also the warmest day of the year so far, beating the previous high of 26.7C (80F) reached in Wisley on Wednesday.
Follow latest updates: May record broken
But the heat is not expected to last for the bank holiday weekend, with cooler weather starting to drift in from the north on Friday.
Temperatures are expected to ease by Friday and Saturday, meaning cooler conditions of 14C to 18C across the UK.
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Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: “Temperatures tomorrow will be slightly reduced from what we’ve seen today, possibly 26 or 27 degrees in the far southeast of England through the day tomorrow.”
What has led to the hot spell?
Forecasters said the hot spell has been due to the jet stream remaining stuck north of the country, allowing high pressure to settle.
Last month was also the sunniest April in the UK since records began in 1910, with 47% more sunshine hours than the long-term meteorological average, and the third warmest April on record, according to provisional Met Office figures.
Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK last month, with just 56% of expected totals recorded.
And Tyne and Wear had its second driest April on record, with only 7% of its usual rainfall.
Science correspondent
Britain has basked in the early taste of summer.
The warmest May Day, the third warmest April and a spring that has so far beaten temperature records dating back to 1884.
But this is more than just natural variation.
Scientists see the fingerprints of climate change all over the tumbling records.
Maps released by data analysts Climate Central show that across large parts of the country, human-induced climate change has made the high temperatures four or even five times more likely.
The warm – and dry – weather this spring has led to a steep rise in wildfires.
Figures from Europe’s satellite monitoring service Copernicus show that more than twice as much land has been burned so far this year in the UK as the average for a whole year.
Latest data shows 29,484 hectares (72,857 acres) have been scorched in 2025, compared to a yearly average of 12,613 hectares (31,167 acres) between 2012 and 2024.
Temperatures will fall sharply into the Bank Holiday weekend.
But the fire risk remains ‘very high to extreme’ across much of Scotland and ‘very high’ for large parts of England.
The warmth that brings joy to many of us also brings jeopardy.
Boy’s body recovered from lake
Meanwhile, the recovery of a 16-year-old boy’s body from a lake in Nottingham prompted emergency services to warn about swimming in lakes and rivers.
Chief Inspector David Mather, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently.”
The London Fire Brigade said its crews responded to 565 water-related incidents last year and have already attended around 160 in the first quarter of this year, with incidents ranging from rescuing people to animals stranded on lakes and ponds.
‘Water temperatures can be dangerously cold’
Assistant commissioner for prevention and protection Craig Carter said. “Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold. Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how fit or experienced they are. It can lead to water inhalation, and, in the worst cases, drowning.”
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) offered similar warnings, advising those planning to swim at a lifeguarded beach to swim between the red and yellow flags.
Fire services warned that the warm weather means there is a “heightened” risk of grass and wildfires which can spread more easily during the dry spell, as firefighters have been battling what they described as a large wildfire in the Peak District.
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The RAC also cautioned drivers on the roads, with spokesman Rod Dennis saying breakdowns are expected to “soar”, while the NHS reported searches for hay fever advice had doubled from Monday to Wednesday.
