The United Kingdom has recorded its hottest May day on record, with temperatures reaching 33.5°C near London, according to the national weather agency.
The previous record of 32.8°C was set in 1922 and matched again in 1944, highlighting the exceptional nature of the new high.
The UK Met Office confirmed the record temperature at Heathrow, noting that May temperatures rarely approach such levels, even during summer months.
The agency had earlier forecast highs of up to 35°C as a heatwave spread across southeast England and London, with Monday also expected to be the hottest bank holiday on record.
Scientists have linked the increasing frequency of extreme heat events to human-induced climate change, warning that the UK is experiencing weather conditions it was not historically built to withstand.
Residents and visitors in London described the heat as unusually intense, with concerns raised about the broader implications of global warming and the need for climate adaptation.
Climate advisers have also urged the government to strengthen infrastructure in anticipation of more frequent and severe heatwaves in the future.
