UK records warmest spring since 1884, May heatwave hits 35°C

The United Kingdom has recorded its warmest spring since records began in 1884, with an exceptionally early heatwave in late May pushing seasonal temperatures to a new high. Provisional figures from the Met Office show England's mean temperature for March, April, and May reached 10.41°C, surpassing the previous record set in 2025. It is the third consecutive year a new spring temperature record has been set for England.

The record-breaking conditions were punctuated by a significant heatwave in the final week of May. Temperatures soared to 35.1°C at Kew Gardens in west London on May 26, setting a new national record for the hottest day in May. Some areas experienced six consecutive days above 30°C, with Cardiff's Bute Park reaching 32.9°C. The heat prompted amber heat-health alerts for several English regions, indicating a risk to vulnerable people and potential pressure on health services.

Every month of the spring season ranked among the warmest on record. March was the joint tenth warmest, April the seventh warmest, and May the joint third warmest for the UK overall. Wales also experienced its warmest spring on record, while Scotland and Northern Ireland had their eighth and...