UK weather: Heat set to intensify over bank holiday weekend as heatwave forecast

The first heatwaves of 2026 are likely to be announced on Sunday, with some areas including London and the south-east, as well as Cardiff, expected to reach their third day above the heatwave threshold.

Locally in the South Midlands and South East England temperatures could reach 30C on Sunday, which is relatively uncommon for May.

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

According to the Met Office, the number of these “very hot” days has tripled in the last decade compared to the 1961-1990 average.

The last time the temperature reached 30C in May was in 2012.

Meanwhile, the cloud lurking over southern Scotland and Northern Ireland is expected to clear and the weather will be at least sunny, if not as hot.