UK weather: 'Extraordinary' heat health alerts in effect ahead of bank holiday heatwave

'Extraordinary' heat health alerts have been issued ahead of the bank holiday weekend as temperatures are forecast to rise to record-breaking levels. Many areas will enter into the official heatwave thresholds across the next few days, with temperatures widely in the high 20s and low 30s into next week. Bank holiday Monday could see the hottest May day on record as temperatures are forecast to approach 33C in south-east England. Heathrow has recorded the UK's highest temperature of the year so far with 28.4C. Cardiff has seen 25.6C marking the warmest day of the year so far for Wales. Amber heat health alerts are in place for five areas of England. Remaining areas are on yellow alert. They are valid until 17:00 on Wednesday Heat health alerts are only issued for England between 1 June and 1 September. Outside of that period 'extraordinary' alerts can be issued. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have chosen to issue them across this weekend because "sustained periods of warm weather can pose a real risk," according to Dr Anya Gopfert, consultant in public health at the agency. Five areas of the UK are under amber warnings, meaning all health and social care services are likely t