Cambridge to sizzle in temperatures of 29C as Met Office issues thunderstorm warning

Temperatures in Cambridge could reach 29C today (Friday) and the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms later in the day.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said much of Friday would be “hot and humid” with a “small chance” temperatures could reach 30C in parts of Eastern England.

That would make it the hottest day of 2025, surpassing the 29.3C recorded at Kew Gardens in west London on May 1.

It means the parts of the UK could be hotter than Ibiza, Mykonos and Los Angeles.

“A good chunk of England and southern Scotland will be dry for most of Friday,” said Mr Deakin.

But moving into Friday evening, a yellow weather warning is in place for the East, South East, South West, London, the West Midlands and Wales, with the Met Office warning thunderstorms could cause disruption overnight.

While many areas within the warning zone may escape severe weather, torrential downpours could bring 30-50mm of rain in a short time before conditions ease on Saturday morning.

Mr Deakin said there was “a bit of uncertainty” over Saturday, but predicted “heavy rain” in the north of England’s, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland as well as afternoon thunderstorms further south.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first yellow heat-health alert of the year, running until 8am on Sunday in the East of England, East Midlands, London, and the south east.

Under UKHSA and the Met Office’s Weather-Health alerting system, a yellow alert means there could be an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people.

It may lead to an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.