The United Kingdom is set to experience temperatures hotter than Hawaii today, with the mercury potentially climbing to 27C in London and East Anglia, according to the Met Office. However, forecasters warn that heavy rain and thunderstorms could follow, particularly over the bank holiday weekend.
Hottest Day of the Year So Far
Today could become the warmest day of 2026, surpassing the Hawaiian capital Honolulu, where highs of only 26C are predicted. Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge explained: "We've got some very warm, humid air coming up from the south. That means we will see some very warm weather, particularly in the east and the South East, because there we'll see the best of the sunshine. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean everybody's going to get a warm, dry, beautiful day."
Regional Variations and Thunderstorm Risk
Cloud cover lingering over the central spine of the UK, stretching from Scotland through the Pennines and into the Midlands, could trigger heavy downpours on Friday. "Certainly the odd rumble of thunder is possible there, particularly over the Midlands," Mr Partridge added. Despite the warmth, the peak temperatures in London and the South East will be around 10C above the seasonal average of 15 to 17C.
Interestingly, Cardiff could outstrip Athens, where forecasters anticipate a high of just 14C today — a full 5C below the expected maximum in the Welsh capital. However, the balmy conditions still fall short of the record April high of 29.4C, which was logged at Camden Square in central London in 1949.
Bank Holiday Weekend Turn
The May Day bank holiday weekend is set to be "a different story," with unsettled conditions expected to sweep across the UK. Mr Partridge said: "The weekend is a bit of a different story, really. There will be some bright spells in there as well on Saturday, but there will also be showers, particularly across northern and western parts of the UK."
Rainfall is anticipated nationwide on Sunday, with temperatures dipping back towards typical April levels. "By the time we get to Monday, we're actually going to see temperatures roughly where they should be for this time of year," Mr Partridge noted. "We're looking at elevens and twelves (degrees Celsius) in the north and fifteens and sixteens in the south, so it will feel quite fresh and chilly compared to what we've had."
