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UK May Heat Hits Records, Triggers Alerts, Water Restrictions

5/28/2026

Summary

UK Heat Records

The Met Office recorded a provisional May high of 35.1 °C at Kew Gardens in west London.
Cardiff’s Bute Park reached a Welsh May record of 32.9 °C.
Kenley Airfield logged a May minimum of 21.3 °C, setting a UK record.
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber and yellow heat-health alerts for vulnerable groups.
South East Water reported low pressure or outages at about 500 properties and urged water-use restrictions.

Summary

Retailers Surge

Currys sales rose 2,758 % year-on-year over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with John Lewis up 800 % and paddling-pool sales up 700 %.
France’s power demand is forecast at 52.8 GW, while skies drove German electricity prices below zero for six hours and French prices negative for two hours.
AO World reported comparable spikes in cooling-equipment sales.
Meteorologists say cooler Atlantic air moving east will bring fresh northeasterly winds that temper the UK heat.

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UK Heat Records

The Met Office recorded a provisional May high of 35.1 °C at Kew Gardens in west London.
Cardiff’s Bute Park reached a Welsh May record of 32.9 °C.
Kenley Airfield logged a May minimum of 21.3 °C, setting a UK record.
The UK Health Security Agency issued amber and yellow heat-health alerts for vulnerable groups.
South East Water reported low pressure or outages at about 500 properties and urged water-use restrictions.

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