Britain is preparing for an intense early summer heatwave, with forecasters warning temperatures could reach a scorching 33C over the Bank Holiday weekend, potentially making it the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK. Health officials have issued amber heat alerts across large parts of England as temperatures continue to climb, with some areas expected to be hotter than popular holiday destinations such as Barbados, Mykonos, Marbella and Benidorm.

The Met Office confirmed that this is already the warmest day of the year so far after Heathrow recorded temperatures of 26.9C, with even hotter conditions expected in the coming days.

Amber heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) came into force from 2pm on Friday and will remain in place until 5pm next Wednesday. These warnings replace earlier yellow alerts and cover London, the South East, East Midlands, West Midlands and the east of England.

According to the UKHSA, an amber alert signals a higher risk to public health, particularly for older people and those with underlying medical conditions, warning that there could be “a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions” as well as increased pressure on health and social care services.

Fresh yellow alerts have also been introduced for the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, and the South West, with officials warning that vulnerable people may require extra support as indoor temperatures also rise.

The soaring temperatures come as around 19 million people are expected to travel over the Bank Holiday weekend, with major congestion already reported on roads including the M4, while long delays have been seen at the Port of Dover.

Southern England and the Midlands are expected to see the highest temperatures, with the mercury forecast to challenge the UK’s current May record of 32.8C. Forecasters predict highs of around 28C in the South East on Friday before temperatures push past 30C across England and Wales over the weekend.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steve Kocher said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30°C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday.

“Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33°C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.”

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