Forecasters issued a warning as temperatures are predicted to reach up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of England. This could be the highest temperature ever recorded in May in Britain. The Met Office, the country’s official weather service, noted that such heat is unprecedented for this time of year.
The record for May is currently 32.8 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit), set in 1944. Temperatures are expected to soar well above the average for the season. The heat has been building throughout the week, with a major peak over the weekend in England and Wales. On Saturday, temperatures reached 30.5 degrees Celsius (86.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in southeast England, which the Met Office notes is rare for May.
By Sunday, eight places in southeast England met the heat wave criteria, having three consecutive days above local temperature thresholds. Britain’s definition of a heat wave differs from the United States. The National Weather Service in the U.S. calls it a period of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days. In contrast, the Met Office declares a heat wave when there are at least three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding local thresholds.
The unusually hot conditions are reflected in predictions, showing significantly higher temperatures than typical for May 25. Forecast temperatures for Monday will be markedly higher than the May average according to the University of Maine Climate Change Institute and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System.
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