What is a tropical night? London set to swelter in first one ever in May

Parts of the country are seeing record May temperatures, with around 32C in the capital on Sunday. Hot conditions are expected to continue into bank holiday Monday and Tuesday, with forecasts predicting highs near 34C. Overnight temperatures are also expected to remain high, with Sunday night not dropping below 20C and Monday night reaching about 22C. A night that does not fall below 20C is defined as a tropical night. Tropical nights are common in tropical regions but are increasingly recorded across Europe, especially during heatwaves. The UK recorded three tropical nights in a row in 2022, and climate change is expected to increase their occurrence. Many homes lack ventilation or air conditioning, making sleep difficult during sustained warm nights.

"Parts of the country are experiencing their highest-ever recorded May temperatures, with the mercury soaring to around 32C in the capital on Sunday. It's expected to get even hotter on bank holiday Monday and Tuesday, with some weather forecasts predicting highs of 34 degrees in the city. Unfortunately, there won't be much reprieve overnight either, with the temperature expected to remain high even after the sun has set."

"On Sunday night, it is anticipated that the overnight temperature won't drop below 20C. It's set to be even sweatier on Monday night with a low of 22C predicted. According to a Sky News weather forecaster, this would mark the first time a tropical night has even been experienced in May in the UK."

"To put it simply, a tropical night is the name given to a night when the temperature doesn't drop below 20C. Although tropical nights are common in tropical parts of the world, more and more have been recorded across Europe in recent years. The UK doesn't tend to have tropical nights unless we're experiencing a heatwave like we are this week."

"While often associated with warmer climates, recent studies show that the UK is now seeing more frequent occurrences of these events, particularly during heatwaves. In the UK, tropical nights have become more common in the last few years. And in 2022, the country recorded three tropical nights in a row, marking a new milestone in UK weather."

Read at www.standard.co.uk