Temperatures set to hit 26C in Northern Ireland today - while forecast set for 35C elsewhere in UK
Temperatures are set to reach 26C in Northern Ireland today, after temperatures approached the 24C mark yesterday.
That is the prediction from the Met Office, as the British Isles in general continue to swelter over the bank holiday weekend.
The Met Office has told the News Letter the highest temperature it is expecting in Northern Ireland today is 26C, “probably somewhere in county Armagh, perhaps near Keady”.
Meanwhile it has predicted a high of 25C in the Craigavon area today, with 24C in Dungannon, Enniskillen and Cookstown, and 23C in Ballymena, Belfast and Strabane.
Yesterday’s high was 23.6C in Armagh, with the second highest being 23.1C at Derrylin, Co Fermanagh.
It is forecasting tomorrow’s high to be slightly lower: 23C.
The record for May in Northern Ireland 28.3C, recorded at Lisburn on May 31, 1922, and the average high for May is 15C.
In the south of England, readings of up to 35C are forecast for today.
If that comes true, then the UK’s May heat records could be broken by nearly 3C.
Temperature records are usually broken tenths of a degree, not several degrees.
Sunday brought a record-breaking high of 32.3C at Kew Gardens, south-west London, and the warmest May night since 1944.
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”, senior Met Office meteorologist Greg 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.
Wales reached 2026 record temperatures of 27.4C in Cardiff.
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 heat is closer to what would be expected in late June and into July, Mr Dewhurst added.
Most of the UK is expected to have very hot, unbroken sunshine during the bank holiday.
Temperatures will widely reach the high 20Cs and low 30Cs, followed by a warm night.
The highest temperatures are expected in parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, London and Bristol.
Clouds are forecast in north-west Scotland but they will be cleared by outbreaks of rain, and some will drift across Northern Ireland and southern Scotland.
Tuesday might be cooler along England’s north-east coast but it will be hot again for most.
Northern Ireland and Scotland will have sunny spells too with temperatures potentially reaching 26C to 27C.
The day’s heat could spark some thunderstorms in parts of England on Tuesday evening.
Temperatures will start to gradually decline from the middle of the week but it will still be largely dry with sunny spells.
Highs on Wednesday and Thursday in England and Wales are predicted to be about 30C to 31C, dipping to about 29C to 30C on Friday.
There is a risk of a few showers at the end of each day from Wednesday onwards but most areas will be dry.
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 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.