Northern Ireland reaches above 26C - putting the Province on a par with Istanbul and Barcelona
Thermometers have breached the 26C mark in Northern Ireland, putting it on a par with Istanbul and Barcelona, whilst the whole UK’s May temperature record has been smashed by a full 2C in London.
Armagh City reached a maximum of 26.3C at 2.15pm today, fractionally more than the 26C predicted by the Met Office and well above Sunday’s peak temperature of 23.6C (also recorded in Armagh).
After Armagh, the runners-up for prize of top temperature in Northern Ireland today were:
Hillsborough in Co Down at 25.6C, followed by Derrylin in Fermanagh with 25.5C, Helen’s Bay in Co Down with 25.1C and Castlederg in Co Tyrone with 25C (all recorded between about 1.30pm and 2.45pm).
According to the website Timeanddate.com , which tracks global weather, both Barcelona and Istanbul hit highs of 26C today.
But sweltering though it was, it did not set any records for Northern Ireland.
The hottest May day ever recorded in Northern Ireland was on May 31, 1922, when a reading of 28.3C was noted in Lisburn.
The hottest day, in any month, ever recorded in Northern Ireland was on July 21 in 2021 in Castlederg: 31.3C.
The average high for the month of May in the Province is 15C.
The Met Office suggested that NI’s lowest high of the day may have been 18.3C at the Giant’s Causeway, though this had yet to be confirmed at time of writing.
As for what tomorrow and Wednesday hold, forecaster Greg Dewhurst said “I would say there is a small chance of somewhere getting to 25C (but probably nearer to 24C), and then again on Wednesday” – meaning it will be “a close call” as to whether Northern Ireland has technically enjoyed a heatwave or not.
Officially, a heatwave is three days where temperatures have reached 25C or above in Northern Ireland (further south in the UK, the threshold is higher).
Elsewhere in the British Isles today, the UK has a new maximum May day temperature: 34.8C, recorded in Kew Gardens in south-west London.
This exceeds the highest May temperature recorded before the bank holiday by 2C.
“This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May”, the Met Office said.
Temperature records are usually broken by tenths of a degree, not several degrees.
Last week there were lows of minus 5C in Scotland and daytime temperatures more widely peaked at about 14C to 15C.
“We see these changes happening so much more dramatically,” Mr Dewhurst said, adding that climate change is boosting the heat.
“In the past, heatwaves built and built and built and built over days and days and days – these now just develop so quickly.
“It’s huge sort of swinging temperatures, and obviously records being broken by day and by night, so it just shows sort of how extreme the weather can change, and how quickly it can change as well.”
As a result of climate change, all meteorological models are predicting “more extreme heat, more extreme weather events” and “hotter, drier summers – wetter, windier winters”, he added.
The UK’s warmest May night was recorded on Sunday when temperatures did not fall below 19.4C at Kenley Airfield, Surrey.
The month’s previous record was 18.9C in 1944.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its first amber health alert of 2026 on Friday, warning that there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services. The alert will remain in place until Wednesday.
The interior of vehicles can reach 60C on a day when the outside temperature is 27C, the AA said, as it warned motorists to “not to drop their guard” when setting out for half-term excursions.
The breakdown service suggested motorists should rest about every two hours, avoiding travelling over the hottest times of day and ensure water and snacks are packed.
“Drivers should never leave children, vulnerable passengers or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short time,” it said.
Heat increases the risk of blowing damaged or incorrectly inflated tyres and coolant systems can come under strain, the AA added as it recommended drivers check both.
The heat is considered to be dangerous for some vulnerable groups including older adults as their bodies struggle to regulate temperature.
Age UK recommended staying inside during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 3pm, and having regular cold baths or showers.