After days of unusually high temperatures across the UK, weather models indicate that colder conditions may arrive in early June, with parts of Scotland potentially approaching freezing overnight. The shift would follow what the Met Office says could become one of the hottest late-May periods ever recorded in the UK, with temperatures forecast to reach 35C.
The UK is experiencing an extended period of hot weather that has already pushed temperatures beyond seasonal norms. According to the Met Office, conditions through late May are expected to remain well above average, with records potentially being broken during the opening days of the week.
At the same time, weather modelling suggests a marked change could follow shortly afterwards. Forecast maps indicate that temperatures may fall below average across much of the country by early June, bringing a noticeably cooler start to the month in some regions.
Heatwave Conditions Build across the UK as Records Come into View
The Met Office forecast temperatures reaching 35C on Monday and Tuesday, which would establish a new all-time May temperature record for the UK. The current record stands at 32.8C. According to the Met Office, temperatures had already exceeded 28C on Friday and were expected to remain at that level or higher through at least Thursday, raising the possibility of a full week of sustained heat.
The forecaster stated that Monday would bring cloud and periods of rain in northwest Scotland, while most other areas would remain sunny and hot, particularly in southern regions, although coastal areas were expected to stay cooler.
For the following days, the Met Office forecast continued hot and mostly dry weather, with temperatures remaining well above average through Thursday and only a slight increase in cloud and a small chance of isolated showers.
In comments reported by The Guardian, environment reporter Helena Horton said overnight temperatures had also reached unusual levels. London came close to experiencing a tropical night, with temperatures approaching 20C overnight, something she noted had not previously occurred in May. She also said temperatures above 30C in May had occurred only eight times since the early 1900s.
Forecast Models Point to Cooler Conditions and Concerns over Heat Resilience
While hot conditions are expected to persist in the short term, weather modelling suggests colder air may move across the UK in early June. According to ECMWF forecast data, temperatures on 3 June could struggle to rise much beyond 10C across large parts of the country. Early morning readings in parts of Scotland may fall to around 0C.
Temperature anomaly maps highlighted widespread areas of below-average conditions across the UK, indicating a potential reversal from the late-May heat.
Speaking to The Guardian, Horton said the UK’s infrastructure and housing stock are not generally designed for prolonged heat. She noted that homes are often built to retain warmth and that air conditioning remains uncommon, increasing pressure on vulnerable groups during high temperatures.
She also pointed to wider concerns around transport and energy systems, stating that existing infrastructure was developed around weather conditions that were historically more typical for the UK.
