The Met Office has urged UK households to keep their curtains drawn on Monday as temperatures are expected to rocket to 33C. The forecaster warns that 'exceptionally' warm conditions are set to sweep across parts of the UK this weekend, with heat alerts already issued across numerous regions.

The UKHSA has issued health alerts as the nation braces itself for a heatwave running from Friday through to next week. The warnings come into force from 9am on Friday, 22 May and remain in place until 5pm on Wednesday, 27 May. As temperatures become uncomfortably high for May, Met Office experts have outlined several tips to help people stay cool during the sweltering conditions, including drawing curtains in sun-facing rooms to lower indoor temperatures.

The Met Office said: "The heat can affect your health and make you feel unwell, there are many simple things you can do to keep yourself safe: Keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am to 3pm when the sun is the strongest, Drink plenty of fluids, Close your curtains in rooms that face the sun, If you are going out, take water with you, keep in the shade, wear sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat."

Dafydd Beech, National Community Education Manager at the British Red Cross, said: "As we come into the summer months, warm weather gives us a chance to get out a bit more and enjoy ourselves.

"It's important to take care while you have fun with friends and family to avoid becoming dehydrated, getting sun burn or even heat stroke.

"Getting into the habit of taking steps whenever temperatures rise can really help. It can be simple things like wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of fluids or ensuring you take breaks from the sun.

"Building these habits early means people are better prepared if hotter weather lasts longer."

Steve Kocher, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: "Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32C on Sunday.

"Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.

"It is likely that the May and spring UK temperature records will be broken over the bank holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8C.

"As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK.

"There will, however, be more cloud and some showers in Northern Ireland and western Scotland through the weekend.

"With relatively low sea surface temperatures, there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts."