Overview

• The Met Office predicts temperatures could climb to 30°C in parts of southern England, setting a new record for the earliest date in May to reach this threshold.
• This warm spell follows consecutive record highs earlier in the week, with 26.7°C recorded in Wisley, Surrey, on Wednesday, making it the warmest day of 2025 so far.
• Despite the heat, forecasters have ruled out an official heatwave, as the event does not meet the three-day threshold of sustained high temperatures required by the Met Office definition.
• High-pressure systems and descending warm air, combined with prolonged sunshine, are driving the unseasonably warm conditions, which are expected to ease by Friday.
• Emergency services, including the London Fire Brigade, have issued safety warnings about open-water swimming, citing risks of cold-water shock and a rise in water-related incidents.