Image source, Getty Images

As the weather heats up you might find yourself reaching for your sunscreen.

The most prominent number on sunscreen bottles is the sun protection factor or SPF. The larger the number, the greater the protection.

According to the British Skin Foundation,, external the SPF rating tells you how much protection your sunscreen provides from ultraviolet B rays.

For instance, correctly applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 it means that it would take your skin 30 times longer to go red than if you used none.

Many sunscreen brands also carry a star rating from one to five.

The NHS says, external the star rating measures the amount of ultraviolet A protection, with more stars denoting increased protection. It recommends using sunscreen with at least four stars.

If the letters "UVA" appear inside a circle on the sunscreen bottle, the product meets EU safety standards.

Ideally, your sunscreen should have both a high SPF rating and a high star rating. The NHS recommends that adults use around six to eight teaspoons of sunscreen if they are covering their entire body.

• If you're wondering exactly how often to reapply, then take a look at our news article

Image source, Getty Images

A heatwave can be dangerous for your health.

The NHS warns that during a warmer spell of weather more people than usual get seriously ill or die.

It says the biggest risks are:

• Dehydration - caused by not drinking enough water
• Overheating - which can lead to breathing or heart problems
• Heat exhaustionand heat stroke - we've explained the difference between the two here

Those over the age of 75, especially women, are the most at risk, the NHS says.

Others at risk include those with long-term illnesses, babies and those who find it hard to keep themselves cool, those who work outside and homeless people.

To manage the risks, it advises:

• Staying out of direct sun between 11:00 to 15:00
• Wearing sunscreen, a hat, and light clothing
• Consuming cold food and drink
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks
• Closing windows during during the day and opening them at night and using an electric fan to circulate the air

Image source, Getty Images

For the latest forecasts on the conditions outside, download the BBC Weather app.

It's easy to do - just follow the relevant link for your device:

• the Android version from Google Play, external
• the iOS version from the App Store, external
• the Amazon version, external

The app is only available to download in the UK.

You can also check out the weather in your area by entering your UK town, city or postcode on the BBC Weather website.

Heat exhaustion happens when your body becomes too hot and struggles to regulate its temperature.

An obvious sign is excessive sweating, as well as feeling very hot and unwell - which is your body's way of warning you to cool down, fast.

Other symptoms include headache, dizziness and cramps, but it is not usually serious as long as you can cool yourself down.

Heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, which is a medical emergency. It means your body can no longer manage the heat and your core temperature is rising too high. You should get urgent medical help.

The signs to watch for and quickly act on include not sweating even while feeling too hot, a temperature of 40C or above, a seizure and lack of consciousness.

Mark Poynting
Climate reporter

Image source, SunshineDan/BBC Weather Watchers

It can be easy to forget just how quickly the UK’s climate is changing.

Days exceeding 30C - known as "very hot" days by the Met Office - might feel normal, but they used to be much rarer.

As a reminder, Heathrow reached 26.9C earlier, making it the warmest day of the year so far. Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 33C in parts of the UK over the bank holiday weekend.

During the last decade, the number of these "very hot" days more than trebled compared with the 1961-1990 average, according to the Met Office.

And these temperatures are especially rare in May.

The Met Office says that 30C has been reached in May in only a handful of years since 1900.

And forecasts suggest that the current May record of 32.8C could be beaten over the upcoming bank holiday weekend.

The UK’s weather varies a lot naturally, but this early season heat is consistent with the long-term trend of rising temperatures because of human-caused climate change.

Sean Dilley
BBC News correspondent

Image source, LISA SINNOTT/BBC

As a guide dog handler of 27 years, my heart falls every time I hear the fatigued pants of dogs in heatwave weather.

Animal welfare charity the RSPCA says that dogs are 10 times more likely to suffer heat-related illnesses from exercising in hot weather than from overheating in cars. Both are tremendously bad for your dog.

Canines have a very limited ability to regulate their temperature. They don't sweat like humans - only perspiring a small amount through the pads on their paws.

Heavy panting, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, lethargy and drowsiness are all key signs that your dog is too hot. In extreme cases, dogs vomit and finally lose consciousness.

If your dog is in trouble, the RSPCA says, external you should move the dog to a shaded and cool area and immediately pour cool, but not very cold, water over the dog, avoiding their head.

For these dogs, a walk by the water has been a key part of the day.

Whether it's by the beach, river or canal these pictures from BBC Weather Watchers show the pooches basking in, or finding shade from, the sun.

Keeping cool is essential for dogs in the warm weather. Remember, start with shorter walks and don't push your dog if they are panting heavily.

In our next post, we'll bring you information from the BBC's Sean Dilley on the RSPCA's guidance on keeping dogs safe in the warm weather.

Image source, Claire and Bella/BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Helen Earth/BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, littleacorns/BBC Weather Watchers

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

Image source, Rusty Sam/ BBC Weather Watchers

Heathrow has recorded the warmest temperature of the year so far, but not all parts of the UK are experiencing the warm weather.

While a heatwave is expected in parts of the country this weekend, cloudier skies across Scotland and Northern Ireland mean temperatures will only get between 17 to 22C at best.

This will fall well short of the threshold needed to declare an official heatwave - 25C for three days in a row.

But spare a thought for those in the Northern Isles, Scotland, where it’s even cooler. The maximum temperature today and over the weekend is only going to be 11 or 12 degrees.

Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

It's the warmest day of 2026 so far, and temperatures are likely to rise even further throughout today.

In Heathrow, temperatures ticked up to 26.9C, slightly above the previous record of 26.6C in London's Kew Gardens on 8 April.

Here's what you need to know:

Heat warnings

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has upgraded their heat health warnings covering large parts of England.

Amber warnings have been issued in the East and West Midlands, London, East England and South East England - which means the conditions could impact the whole population in these regions, as well as the NHS and likely travel disruption.

Yellow heat warnings are in force in North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and Humber and South West England. A yellow warning indicates adverse weather likely to affect vulnerable groups.

All warnings are in place until Wednesday 27 May at 17:00 BST.

How can I stay cool?

We've put together a handy guide on how to stay cool in the coming days.

There's also some specific advice on how to tackle hot temperatures depending on your plans: whether it be staying at home, travelling on the train, or catching the football this weekend.

The forecast:

Bank holiday Monday could see the UK's hottest day in May ever, as there is increasing confidence that the maximum temperature could reach 33C.

Over the next five days, the country will be hotter and drier than parts of the Mediterranean and North Africa.

And, here's a fuller forecast of the days to come.

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

It’s getting very warm out there this lunchtime.

With 26.9C just recorded at Heathrow, it is now the warmest day of the year so far.

We’re expecting temperatures to rise even further so we’ll be able to let you know how hot it eventually gets later this afternoon.

Elsewhere across the UK, temperatures have been rising into the twenties.

But with more cloud around the far west of south-west England, west Wales and northern Scotland, temperatures are much lower at 11-14C. Northern Ireland is also cloudy, but seeing slightly higher temperatures.

It is officially the warmest day of the year so far in the UK, the Met Office has confirmed, as temperatures hit 26.9C in Heathrow.

Previously, the warmest day of 2026 was on 8 April, when heat of 26.6C was recorded in London's Kew Gardens.

How climate change makes hot weather more likelypublished at 12:15 BST

12:15 BST

Mark Poynting
Climate reporter

Let's step away from the UK for a moment, to understand why we are seeing such high temperatures.

It’s well established that human-caused climate change is making hot weather more likely and more intense.

As humans burn coal, oil and gas and cut down forests, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.

These gases act like a blanket, causing the planet to heat up.

And even a small increase in average temperatures makes a big difference to heat extremes.

As the range of daily temperatures shifts to warmer levels, hotter days become more likely and more intense.

Since the 1980s, the UK has been warming at about 0.25C per decade – and 2025 was the UK’s hottest year ever recorded, the Met Office says.

Image source, Getty Images

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) says that risk of wildfire in the English capital is "very real", and is advising people against using disposable barbecues over the bank holiday weekend.

Assistant commissioner Paul McCourt says there will be a heightened risk of wildfires in London over the weekend, according to an assessment from the Met Office's Natural Hazards Partnership.

The LFB says people can prevent wildfires by "not using disposable barbecues", along with "being careful about how they dispose of cigarettes".

The heightened risk is due to the "wetter-than-usual" weather, which has allowed vegetation to grow, followed by "one of the driest Aprils on record", says McCourt.

Sarah Keith-Lucas
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

The UK will be hotter and drier than parts of the Mediterranean and North Africa over the next five days.

Whilst hot, humid air is pushing across north-west Europe, colder air is affecting the south-east of Europe, including Greece and Turkey - popular summer holiday destinations.

Image source, BBCrnl

Your pictures are continuing to come into us from all across the UK via BBC Weather Watchers.

So far we've seen various four-legged animals, bodies of water, boats and the odd grey sky - let's take a look.

Image source, Yen Milne/ Weather Watchers

Image source, Dave/ Weather Watchers

Image source, Wendy Windblows/ Weather Watchers

Image source, pewitt/ Weather Watchers

Sam Harrison
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

It’s a huge weekend coming up for football fans, who are being urged to stay safe in the warm temperatures.

It's the last day of the Premier League on Sunday with games planned across England, and Wembley will be hosting the EFL final play-offs with around 170,000 fans expected across three days.

Supporters of the clubs involved - Hull City, Middlesbrough, Stockport County, Bolton Wanderers, Notts County and Salford City - have been told by Wembley to take extra care.

They've been advised to plan ahead, dress accordingly, and stay hydrated throughout the day, according to a statement seen by the BBC.

Let in cool air: Open windows on opposite sides of the home to encourage air flow. Do this when the air temperature outside is cooler than inside, which tends to be overnight or in the early part of the day.

Keep warm air out: During the peak heat of the day, keep your windows shut and blinds or curtains closed - especially on the side of your home where the sun is shining.

Use a fan: Putting the fan in front of an open window can encourage the fresh air from outside to be blown throughout the room - as long as it is cooler outside.

Limit hot activities: Ovens and cookers emit a lot of heat into the home during and after their use. Sticking to cold foods, such as salads, that don't require cooking can stop unnecessary heat being generated.

Cool yourself down: Tepid showers, wearing natural fibres like linen and cotton and using a cold water bottle on your body can help.

Find an alternative space: If your home is too warm, air-conditioned public buildings such as libraries, leisure centres and shopping centres can provide relief.

Image source, Getty Images

Network Rail, which manages many of the railways in Britain, has published some advice for those travelling by train in areas seeing warm weather.

They ask that, in hot weather, travellers:

• Check before travelling and allow more time for journeys
• Carry water bottles, which can be filled up at fountains at big stations
• Avoid boarding trains if feeling unwell, and ask staff for assistance at a help point if needed

Also with a warning is Southern Railway, which says trains are likely to be busier than usual, "particularly on routes to coastal destinations".

As a potential heatwave approaches parts of England, here's a look at how the weather across the UK will be over the bank holiday weekend.

Yellow vs amber

A yellow health alert means that adverse weather is likely to affect vulnerable groups.

An amber alert is issued when weather conditions could affect the whole population or the NHS, with travel disruption likely.

What are the risks?

TheUK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is warning that "significant impacts" are likely across health and social care services.

For places subject to yellow warnings:

These include a rise in deaths - particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions - increased demand on health and social care services, and heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services.

For places subject to amber warnings:

The same risks as above stand for places under amber alerts, but the UKHSA gives additional warnings that there could be issues managing medicines, an increased demand for power that exceeds capacity and that other sectors might start to notice issues, such as travel delays.

The amber alerts currently in place have been given a risk of 12, which means there is a 60-89% likelihood of these impacts.

It's worth noting that these heat warnings only cover England, and are not issued for other parts of the UK. Our earlier post covers which places are currently under warnings.