UK weather: Record heat to kick off May as temperatures forecast to hit 29C

Very warm, even hot weather has been felt right across the UK on Wednesday with temperatures widely in the low to mid-twenties.

The hottest weather was in south-east England where the thermometer hit 26.7C (80.1F) in Wisley (Surrey), making it the warmest spell of April weather for seven years.

Scotland had its highest April temperature since 2019, reaching 24.4C (75.9F) at Aboyne (Aberdeenshire).

In Wales, Wednesday was the second hottest April day on record, behind 2003 when the national record of 26.2C was set at Gogerddan (Ceredigion).

It was also the second hottest April day on record in Northern Ireland, reaching 24.1C Castlederg, behind the previous high of 24.5C set in1984.

UV levels were high for most of the UK, though moderate in the far north of Scotland.

The heat builds even further on Thursday across England and Wales with temperatures in the mid to high twenties forecast, and 29C possible.

If that is the case, the record for the warmest start to May would be exceeded by a good few degrees.

However, for Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will turn cooler with some cloud and showers. Temperatures will actually fall to around the early May average of 13 to 17C.

With increasing humidity on Thursday, there will also be a risk of heavy and thundery showers in parts of Wales, the Midlands and eastern England.