Heatwave in London makes UK hotter than parts of Greece
London and large parts of southern England are heading into what could become the first major heatwave of 2026, with temperatures expected to rise to 29C over the weekend.After days of cold winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms, meteorologists say the weather is about to change dramatically. The warm spell is expected to begin Friday and last through Monday, bringing sunshine, dry conditions and some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far.The sudden rise means parts of the UK could become hotter than popular Mediterranean destinations including Athens, Ibiza and even parts of Greece and Spain over the weekend.
Heatwave in London During this weekend
According to the Met Office, temperatures across London and south-east England are expected to remain between 27C and 29C from Friday until the bank holiday Monday. In meteorological terms, this could amount to a heatwave in London if temperatures remain above the city’s official threshold of 28°C for three consecutive days.Warmer conditions are expected across London, Kent, Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of East Anglia.
Temperatures in some inland locations can briefly reach 30°C, making it the hottest period of the year so far.Meteorologists say that the heat is due to high pressure coming from the south after a week dominated by Arctic air, rain, and unstable weather. This change is expected to bring lighter winds, clearer skies and longer hours of sunshine across much of England and Wales.The Met Office also noted that while southern and eastern England will enjoy the best sunshine, northern and western areas could see occasional cloud cover and isolated rain.
The UK is getting hotter than Greece
Weather experts say Britain may become temporarily warmer than parts of southern Europe during the bank holiday.Forecasts show the temperature in Athens could reach around 25°C, while temperatures in London and parts of south-east England will be close to 28°C to 29°C. Ibiza and Barcelona are also expected to remain cooler than parts of Britain during the peak of the warm spell.The timing of the heatwave is likely to result in crowded parks, crowded beaches and crowded beer gardens across the capital.
Tourism operators, coastal resorts and hospitality businesses are also expected to benefit from the sudden burst of summer weather after an unusually cold and wet start to May.Reaction on social media has already begun to trickle in, with many Londoners celebrating the return of sunshine while others complain about sleepless nights, overheating apartments and crowded Tube journeys. One viral discussion on Reddit described the upcoming weekend as “sunny bank holiday weather like no other”, while another joked that British people had gone “from turning the heating on to 30C in May”.
Authorities issue an alert
The warmer weather has also prompted health officials to issue heat health alerts in several parts of England ahead of the weekend. The UK’s Health Security Agency warned that rising temperatures could affect the elderly, young children and people with existing health conditions.Experts advise residents to stay hydrated, avoid direct afternoon sun where possible, and check on vulnerable relatives or neighbors during hotter times of the day.Although the weather is expected to be distinctly summery, meteorologists warn that conditions in May in Britain could change quickly. The Met Office warned that there was still a small possibility of isolated thunderstorms later in the weekend, especially in western areas.However, for millions planning outdoor events, barbecues, staycations or trips to the coast, this could become one of the warmest and sunniest May weekends in years.
Could this Sunday become the warmest in the UK?
Historical Met Office data shows the warmest temperature ever recorded on a May weekend in the UK was 28.7C, measured in Northolt, west London, in 2018. Forecasters say temperatures this weekend could approach those levels, with some models even suggesting isolated highs of up to 30C.If temperatures exceed 29.4 degrees Celsius, this will become the hottest May day recorded in Britain since 2012.For now, meteorologists say confidence is growing that much of southern Britain will see several successive days of unseasonably warm weather for late spring, a major turnaround after many parts of the country shivered through below-average temperatures just days ago.