Met Office Issues Thunderstorm Warning After Record May Heat

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms across parts of south-west England and much of Wales. The alert runs from 3pm to midnight and covers risks of heavy rain, hail, spray, lightning damage to buildings, transport delays, localized flooding, and short-term power cuts. Tuesday marked the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales. 9C at Cardiff Bute Park.

The UK Health Security Agency extended amber heat-health alerts for the South West, South East, London, East and West Midlands, and the East of England until 5pm Thursday. Yellow alerts remain in place for the North West and North East. NHS England recorded 20,092 visits to its heatstroke advice page on bank holiday Monday, up from 488 the previous Monday.

Over the full weekend, the page received 36,724 visits. Baby first-aid and sun-safety pages saw a 3,500 percent increase in visits on Monday, totaling 4,728 hits. Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said the surge reflected concern among new parents and urged continued caution for babies, children, older people, and those with long-term conditions.

Several teenagers died after entering open water in recent days. Cheshire Police recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy from Pickmere Lake at Marston, Northwich on Wednesday. Hampshire Constabulary confirmed a body in the search for 15-year-old Declan Sawyer at Hawley Lake near Blackwater.

Additional fatalities occurred at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln, Leadbeater Dam near Halifax, Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire, Tregirls Beach in Padstow, Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, and the River Ribble at Ribchester. The RNLI warned that cold water shock remains a risk despite high air temperatures.