The Met Office has confirmed 15 locations across England that are expected to experience the highest temperatures this weekend, with some areas set to hit 30°C during the three-day Bank Holiday period. Heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for much of the Midlands and south-east England, valid from 9am on Friday 22 May until 5pm on Wednesday 27 May.
Hottest Areas and Comparisons
Forecasters predict that the South and East of England will see the highest temperatures. According to the Met Office, Guildford in Surrey will be hotter than Athens, Greece, on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 30°C compared to 23°C in the Greek capital. Even Majorca, the Balearic island, is expected to see daily highs of only 28°C over the same weekend.
Other Hotspots
Guildford is not alone in facing sweltering conditions. Met Office weather maps show orange hues across Oxfordshire, Greater London, and Cambridgeshire, indicating widespread heat. The full list of locations expected to reach at least 29°C includes:
- London – 29°C
- Hounslow – 29°C
- Chelmsford – 29°C
- Cambridge – 30°C
- Braintree – 29°C
- Thetford – 29°C
- Guildford – 30°C
- Oxford – 29°C
- Saffron Walden – 29°C
- Royston – 29°C
- Feltwell – 29°C
- Didcot – 29°C
- Slough – 30°C
- Dartford – 29°C
- Maidstone – 30°C
Weather Forecast Details
Jo Farrow from Netweather TV commented on the models, noting that the ECM model suggests a circulation over northern France that could bring heavy showers over England. Meanwhile, the Met Office Global model builds high pressure over much of the UK, but Atlantic influences may bring more cloud and showery rain from the northwest. Under high pressure, conditions should remain fine and very warm.
Farrow added: "With showers, it's hard to pinpoint where and when anyway but for the Bank Holiday weekend, it looks warmer than it has been for a while, as a southerly flow takes over from the northerly one. There will be warm, strong sunshine, although perhaps more mixed weather for Northern Ireland and western Scotland at times. High pressure will try to settle the weather down later this week but there is the threat of thunderstorms starting later on Friday."
