Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

Much of the UK and Western Europe has been under the influence of a large area high pressure in recent days and this is key.

Within high pressure, air is sinking through the atmosphere and this does two things.

The first is, like a sponge, it dries the air out so that there is little cloud which in turn means more sunshine is absorbed by the ground, heating the air from below.

The second is that as air descends in the atmosphere, it is being squeezed against the ground, or compressed - hence the high pressure at the surface. And compression heats air up, in the same way you feel heat when you pump a bicycle tyre up.

With high pressure - or a so-called ‘heatdome’ - stationary for days on end, temperatures will rapidly increase and be mostly sustained for as long as it’s there.

Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor

As Europe also faces a heatwave, French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon says seven deaths have been linked to the record warm weather, either directly or indirectly.

She tells French TV they include at least five people drowning as well as deaths related to the extreme heat during sporting events.

Bregeon's office told AFP news agency that two people had drowned in the Gironde in the south-west and two died taking part in sporting activities in Paris and Lyon.

A 53-year-old runner died during an annual Paris race called La Pyrénéenne on Sunday, and a 28-year-old woman died in hospital of hypothermia, after collapsing at an indoor running and fitness event that had air-conditioning.

Sports minister Marina Ferrari has warned that some events may have to be cancelled.

Temperatures reached 34.7C in Bergerac in western France, and are set to hit 32C in parts of Belgium today.

France, Belgium, Italy and Spain are experiencing very high temperatures, with France breaking dozens of local heat records for May on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

The UK Health Security Agency has issued five amber heat-health alerts for much of England, covering the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East and London.

This means the agency expects more vulnerable people will need health care because of the heat. There’s also a higher health risk for people over 65 or with pre-existing health conditions such as respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.

People are advised to protect themselves and their property, as there is a likely, widespread impact.

England's North East, North West, South West, Yorkshire and Humber regions are under yellow alerts. People are advised to take precautions and check forecasts.

The alerts were issued on Friday and will remain in place until 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

The body of a teenage girl was recovered from Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire on Monday evening, Atherstone and Coleshill Police say.

In a statement, police say she was removed from the water shortly after 19:20 BST. Officers were called to the site at 18:05 "after concerns for the welfare of a teenage girl in the water".

The girl was pronounced dead at the scene "despite the efforts of emergency services", the police say, adding that an investigation is ongoing and the girl's next of kin have been made aware.

Specialist teams, the police helicopter, fire service and ambulance all took part in the search on Monday.

The news comes after a 13-year-old boy was confirmed to have died after getting into difficulty in a West Yorkshire reservoir.

Barra Best
BBC News NI weather presenter

Today could be the hottest May day on record across the island of Ireland, with temperatures rising towards 30C.

The highest temperatures are expected across Munster and south Leinster, according to Irish weather service Met Éireann.

In its national forecast it has said that highest temperatures will generally range from 23C to 29C or 30C.

It comes after yesterday’s record-breaking 28.6C at Shannon Airport - already the hottest May temperature ever recorded on the island of Ireland.

That surpassed the previous record of 28.4C, recorded in County Kerry in 1997.

A 13-year-old boy has died after getting into difficulty while in a reservoir in Halifax, Yorkshire, on Monday, West Yorkshire Police say.

In a statement, the force says its officers were called to Leadbeater Dam on Lumb Lane at 15:18 BST.

"The body of a 13-year-old boy was pulled from the water. He was taken to hospital and was sadly pronounced dead," they say.

"Enquiries are ongoing by Calderdale CID, however there aren’t believed to be any suspicious circumstances."

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

This heatwave has seen temperatures 8 to 15 degrees above the May average for much of western Europe over the last few days.

On Monday hundreds of localities across France broke monthly records as temperatures soared to 32 to 37C.

And by Friday, the temperature could reach a peak at 40C in south-west France which would be unprecedented for May.

Spain, Germany and Switzerland and northern Italy have also seen exceptional May temperatures this week.

Image source, Reuters

It’s not just the UK experiencing unusual heat. France has also seen its hottest May day since records began, according to its meteorological agency, Météo-France.

The agency described the intense heat as “completely unprecedented” for late May.

Looking ahead, it says Tuesday will be even hotter, with maximum temperatures of 33 to 36C expected in the afternoon - and temperatures are set to rise further in the south-east on Wednesday. The heatwave is likely to continue at least until the end of the week.

A similar situation is being recorded in many parts of Europe. In Italy, some areas have imposed restrictions on outdoor work. In Spain, forecasters warn that temperatures in the southwest are expected to peak between 36 and 38C from Wednesday to Friday.

Matt Taylor
Lead weather presenter

The extent and intensity of the heat across the UK yesterday saw nearly all weather stations across England and Wales break their local temperature records for May.

An incredible fifteen weather stations either equalled or exceeded the UK's previous May record of 32.8C.

Tinshui Yeung
Live reporter

Normally, my sleep score on my smart watch is above 80, but last night it dropped to 73.

It’s not my lowest on record, but it’s the worst this month. The sleep tracker data shows the low score was down to unusually high restlessness.

Research suggests that high temperatures can affect things like your sleep-wake rhythm, which in turn impacts sleep quality.

The BBC has an article on how to sleep in the heat, with tips like opening windows before bed. But living near Heathrow Airport - one of the hottest places in the UK during this heatwave - that’s not an option, as the noise from planes is just as bad as the heat.

Since the article also says "cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body", I did use a fan to cool my feet, which indeed helped. It's actually very comfortable.

Coming from Hong Kong, days over 30C aren’t unusual - but most people there have air conditioning, so sleeping in the heat isn’t as tough.

My family here has been talking about whether, as the UK gets hotter, we might need to get air conditioning too.

BBC Weather Watchers from each part of the UK were up early to submit their sunrise pictures as another day of high temperatures dawns.

It's expected to be hot again in the south of England and parts of Wales and less so in Scotland and Northern Ireland - they already look a little chilly.

Our readers sent in photos of their furry friends cooling off on Monday so we thought we'd include one from an early riser taking their dog for a walk in a field before the heat sets in.

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Coastal JJ

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Ingrid

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Conwy

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/MrT

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Helen Earth

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Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC weather

It’s going to be another exceptionally hot day for most of England and Wales with temperatures soaring into the high 20s to low 30s.

With a forecast of 35C in south-east England we could beat the record of 34.8C set yesterday at Kew.

It’ll be slightly cooler in far north-east England, with an onshore wind, and not as hot as yesterday in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with northern and western areas once again the coolest places in the UK.

Image source, PA

The UK recorded its highest ever May temperature on Monday as temperatures reached 34.8C in Kew Gardens, south-west London. The previous May record was 32.8C, which stood since 1944. Here's a look back:

• The figure also surpassed the hottest bank holiday Monday on record - 33.3C in August 2019, while Wales also experienced its hottest May day, reaching 32.2C at Hawarden Airport in Flintshire

• Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded their highest temperatures for 2026 so far - 25.5C in Charterhall and 25.8C at Derrylin in County Fermanagh
• The sweltering conditions caused a number of bank holiday events to be cancelled across the country

• Meanwhile, around 500 properties in Sussex and Kent were left without water, or had intermittent supply due to "increased demand"

• But not everywhere experienced scorching conditions, with Shetland being a cool 11C on Monday afternoon

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

It was a very warm night across England and Wales and, as the temperature didn’t drop below 21.3C at Kenley, London, it was the warmest May night on record.

It was also classed as a "tropical night" (when overnight temperatures don’t fall below 20C).

This beats the record we set here only yesterday morning.

Temperatures will rise quickly and there’s a chance we could exceed the 34.8C recorded yesterday.

Here’s a look at the temperatures at 06:00 BST.

Imogen James
Live reporter

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers | SableD

People are rising in the UK to a provisional record for the highest overnight temperature in May as the heatwave gripping the country continues.

At Kenley Airfield, London, the mercury didn’t fall below 21.3C, which meteorologists class as a tropical night, breaking the record set the day before (19.4C).

Forecasters are warning that records set yesterday could again be broken as it is expected to reach 35C in parts of southern England.

Each of the four nations had their warmest day of the year so far on Bank Holiday Monday, and the UK recorded its all-time highest May temperature as part of London reached 34.8C.

The south-east will see the hottest temperatures, and other areas in England and Wales are expected to climb to the high 20s.

Further afield, France yesterday sweltered through its hottest May day since records began, with parts of Europe also enduring prolonged high temperatures.

We'll bring you the latest on temperatures, how to stay cool, and developments during the warm weather.