Residents in Basingstoke are set for a week of exceptionally warm and sunny weather, with temperatures expected to climb from 26°C on Friday to a peak of 31°C by Monday, May 25, 2026. This forecast puts the area well above the typical late May average of 12°C to 18°C.
The Met Office has attributed this warming trend to high pressure over the United Kingdom, which is causing sinking air to compress and heat up. While this heatwave is expected to impact much of the country, local residents are advised that the UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert for south-eastern England, upgraded from an initial yellow alert. This alert remains in effect from Friday, May 22, until Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
Throughout the week, the area will experience high levels of UV radiation, and the Met Office recommends that people seek shade during the middle of the day, cover up, and wear sunscreen. Hay fever sufferers should also be aware that pollen levels will remain high throughout the week, rising to very high levels on Tuesday.
According to Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steve Kocher, it is likely that May and spring temperature records will be broken over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend. The current all-time May temperature record for the United Kingdom stands at 32.8°C, first set in 1922 and matched in 1944 — a mark that has not been surpassed since. If temperatures reach 30°C in England during this period, it would mark the first time the country has reached that threshold in May since 2005.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
