UK breaks 80-year-old heat record as temperatures soar

An 80-year-old heat record has been shattered across the United Kingdom as a significant heatwave grips the islands. In Kew Gardens, London, temperatures reached a high of 34.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, surpassing the previous May record of 32.8 degrees set in 1944.

This exceptional warmth is not confined to the capital, with new May temperature records also being set in Wales and other areas. The UK Met Office described the heat as unusual, noting that such temperatures are more typical of mid-summer than late spring.

Thousands of people have flocked to the beaches, particularly in Brighton on the south coast, to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. Photographer Jóhann Jónsson captured images of the crowded beach, where temperatures reached around 28 degrees Celsius.

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I sat at a cafe on Saturday with my friends and I felt like I was in Thailand. I drove past the beach that day and it was completely packed with people.

Linda Sóley James, a resident of Shoreham-By-Sea near Brighton, described the atmosphere as feeling like "Thailand." She noted that people were dressed lightly and the sun felt very strong. "I sat at a cafe on Saturday with my friends and I felt like I was in Thailand. I drove past the beach that day and it was completely packed with people," she told mbl.is.

James added that May is usually much colder in England, with recent weeks experiencing wind and rain. She observed that when the weather is good, people are eager to go out and enjoy the sun. Forecasters predict even higher temperatures for Tuesday, with the southeast coast of England potentially exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.

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I like it when it's hot, I like long matches, so I like the conditions, it suits me perfectly.