Britain is experiencing an extraordinary heatwave that has shattered the country's May temperature record twice within two days. Temperatures soared to 35 degrees Celsius at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, following a reading of 34.8C at Kew Gardens in London the day before. The Monday reading alone surpassed the previous May record of 32.8C, set in 1922, by a full two degrees.
Scientists Link Heatwave to Climate Change
Professor Friederike Otto of Imperial College, London, told The Independent that the temperatures are not a fluke. She described seeing 35C in the UK during spring as "absolutely astonishing" and directly attributed the event to the climate crisis. She explained that climate change is making heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent, and warned that temperature records will continue to fall until the world reaches net zero emissions.
According to the Met Office, locations across Suffolk, Berkshire, and Warwickshire have set new local records during the current spell. The UK Health Security Agency issued its first amber health alert of 2026 last Friday, warning of significant pressure on health and social care services. The alert is set to run until Wednesday.
UK Unprepared for Future Heat
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) published a major report last week warning that the government is falling well short in preparing the country for a hotter future. More than nine in ten homes are not insulated well enough to keep out heat. By 2050, there could be a daily shortfall in water supply of five billion litres. Even with two degrees of global warming, temperatures could regularly exceed 40C in parts of the UK. Global average temperatures have already risen by just over 1.3C above pre-industrial levels. The CCC estimates that around 11 billion pounds per year is needed for climate adaptation, covering hospitals, care homes, food systems, and infrastructure.
Deadly Consequences Without Action
Gareth Redmond-King from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit warned that the current conditions are dangerous. He noted that excess deaths rise during periods of extreme heat and highlighted that when UK temperatures topped 40C for the first time in July 2022, around 3,000 people died. During that event, Network Rail issued a do-not-travel warning, and thousands of homes lost power. He added that adaptation investment is vital, but so is pushing ahead with cutting emissions, as there will come a point when adaptation alone is no longer sufficient. The heatwave is expected to ease from Wednesday, with temperatures dropping but remaining in the high 20s.
