Red-Hot London! UK Experiences Toastiest-Ever May Day and Sunniest-Ever April
United Kingdom experiences record-breaking warmest May Day temperature.
Britain's got the summer heat, even if it's only May! On Thursday, the UK scorched records, hitting a whopping 29.3 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens, southwest London. This temps beat the previous record of 27.4C set in Lossiemouth, Scotland back in '90.
Think this toasty day is a one-off? Nah, mate! This May 1st is officially the hottest day of the year, leaving the rest of it in the dust. And it's not just sunny skies over here; other European nations are sweltering under a heatwave since the week began.
Turns out, April showers were barely a thing this time around. The Met Office declared the month the sunniest since their records began in 1910! Plus, it breached the average temperature of 9.6C—a nice 1.7C rise over the norm.
Aidan McGivern, a meteorologist from the Met Office, isn't shocked. According to him, "The sun is as strong as it usually is in August." Sheet!
All this sunshine and heat have set gale-force wildfire conditions across the country. Indeed, a blaze erupted in West Yorkshire on Thursday, piling up to the 400-plus fires already reported this year by the National Fire Chiefs Council. That's an epic increase compared to typical years. Fires have torched over 74 acres of forests as well, data from the European Forest Fire Information System suggests.
Scientists aren't mincing words. Climate change, fueled by humanity's passionate love affair with fossil fuels, is beefing up periods of insane heat, making them longer and fiercer. Sounds like everyone needs to slap on the sunscreen and brush up on their fire safety tips! 🔥🔥🔥
Enrichment Data:
While specific information about the 2023 heatwave's impact on fires may not be readily available, it's clear that heatwaves in the UK contribute to increased wildfire risk due to climate-driven conditions. For example, during the record-breaking heatwave of summer 2022, there was a significant rise in wildfires, causing many fire and rescue services to declare major incidents. This trend is linked to dry and hot conditions that are becoming more frequent due to climate change[2][3].
In early 2025, the UK experienced a heatwave that led to numerous fires across the country, exceeding 400 fires that year, notably higher than in previous years. This includes fires in northern England and extensive forest blazes[1]. It's crucial to stay vigilant about wildfires and follow safety precautions during heatwaves. 🚒🔥🌳💦
- The unprecedented heatwave in the UK, such as the one experienced in May 2023, is consistent with the trends of climate change, fueled by human emissions of fossil fuels.
- The National Fire Chiefs Council reported a significant increase in wildfires in Yorkshire, with over 400 fires recorded in 2025, a stark rise compared to typical years.
- The environmental-science community has linked the increase in wildfires to the more frequent dry and hot conditions caused by climate change.
- As a result of the rising temperatures, the average national temperature in April 2023 surpassed the norm by 1.7 degrees Celsius, making it the sunniest April on record.
- A meteorologist, Aidan McGivern, commented that the sun's strength in April 2023 was as strong as usual in August, further demonstrating the impact of climate change on the UK's weather.
- Given the correlation between heatwaves and wildfire risk, it's essential to be proactive in fire safety during warm weather months, employing sunscreen and adhering to fire safety guidelines.
