First Heat Wave of the Year Hits Parts of Britain

Large parts of Britain experienced the year’s first heat wave on Monday. Forecasters warned that temperatures could reach the highest levels ever recorded in May, potentially climbing to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas of England.

The predicted temperatures were significantly above seasonal averages. If reached, these highs would surpass Britain’s previous May temperature record of 32.8 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) set in 1944, according to the Met Office, the official weather service of the country.

The Met Office described the heat as unprecedented for this time of year, explaining that temperature records usually break by only small margins. The heat had been building throughout the week, but the major peak occurred over the weekend in England and Wales. On Saturday, temperatures rose to 30.5 degrees Celsius (86.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in southeast England. Temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius in May are rare for Britain, last seen in 2012.

By Sunday, eight locations in southeast England officially met the heat wave criteria, having recorded three consecutive days of temperatures above their local thresholds. Britain’s criteria for a heat wave differ from those of the United States. The National Weather Service in the U.S. defines it broadly as an extended period of excessively hot weather, usually more than two days. In Britain, the Met Office considers a heat wave to be a location experiencing at least three consecutive days of temperatures meeting or exceeding the local heat wave threshold.

The forecast predicted unusually high temperatures for Monday. These forecasts come from sources such as the University of Maine Climate Change Institute and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System. Averages are based on data recorded from 1979 to 2000.