Peterborough is baking under the hottest day of the current warm spell this Thursday, with the Met Office forecasting a sizzling 30°C under sunny skies. The heat marks the peak of an exceptional late-spring blast that has provisionally rewritten the UK record books, with 35.1°C recorded at Kew Gardens on Wednesday, breaking the May and spring temperature benchmark for a second consecutive day.
Chief Forecaster Andy Page said the exceptional heat will linger until Saturday, but warned of a marked change. “We’ll then see a gradual change later in the week, with temperatures easing slightly, though still above average, before a more marked change to near-normal temperatures by Sunday and an increased chance of showers and some longer spells of rain,” he explained. For Peterborough, that means cloudier skies and a sharp drop to 21°C on Sunday, with light showers forecast from Monday through Wednesday and highs settling around 20°C.
Residents making the most of the warm weather are being urged to take care, with High UV levels peaking at 6-7 today and again on Saturday. The Met Office advises seeking shade during midday hours, covering up, and wearing sunscreen. Pollen levels are also running high, spelling discomfort for hay fever sufferers. Health authorities have Amber and Yellow Heat Health Alerts in place, with the UK Health Security Agency reminding people that even moderate heat can pose serious risks for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
Water safety groups have sounded a separate warning about the dangers of open water swimming during the heatwave, stressing that cold water shock can kill even when air temperatures soar. With the warm spell set to break from Sunday, the fleeting taste of summer is a chance to enjoy the outdoors safely before more typical spring weather returns.
The record-breaking heat has been made around three times more likely by human-caused climate change, according to a Met Office attribution study, which found that May temperatures once expected every 100 years now occur roughly every 33 years. For now, Peterborough can expect one more hot day on Saturday before the cool-down begins.
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