UK weather latest: Forecasters upgrade predictions as temperatures smash May bank holiday records

Temperatures could reach as high as 29C in capital

This month is odds-on to be the hottest May on record (Alamy)

The UK is now officially enjoying the hottest May Day bank holiday Monday on record after temperatures soared past 24C in the East Sussex village of Herstmonceux.

Forecasters are predicting gauges could reach as high as 29C near Heathrow Airport in west London and possibly parts of the southern Midlands.

That would smash the previous high of 23.6C reached in 1999 in Worcester, Malvern and the Hampshire village of Martyr Worthy.

It would also beat the 28.6C record for the early May bank holiday weekend as a whole, set on 2 May 1981 in Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire.

This month is also odds-on to be the hottest May on record, according to bookmakers Coral, who are now offering 10-11 after a flurry of bets.

The firm is also offering odds of 5-4 that the record high of 32.8C is recorded this May and 1-2 that it is 20C or higher during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.

“After a scorching couple of days, the odds suggest this month could now end as the hottest May ever in the UK," said Coral’s John Hill.

"The record high of 32.8C looks to be in danger of being broken, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should be set for some glorious sunshine on their big day later this month.”

Meteorologist Greg Drewhurst confirmed the previous record of 23.6C was passed in Herstmonceux just before 11am.

"It could possibly get to 29C in places like Heathrow and Kew Gardens or possibly the southern Midlands," he added.

Parts of northern Scotland and Northern Ireland will however miss out on the best of the weather, with forecasters predicting clouds and rain.

Andy Page, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office told The Independent: “Most of us will continue to have blue skies and sunshine on bank holiday Monday, although parts of the far north and northwest of Scotland will be cloudier with the chance of some rain, and it will be misty and chilly around some Irish Sea coasts.

“It's possible that temperatures today will make it the hottest early May bank holiday weekend on record.

“The sunshine and heat won’t last much longer though, with the high pressure area that has brought the fine conditions gradually giving way to fresher winds and showers from the Atlantic over the next couple of days.”