The UK has been gripped by an unusually intense May heatwave this Bank Holiday weekend, with forecasters warning parts of the country could see record-breaking temperatures. Much of the focus has been on London and the South East, where temperatures have been forecast to climb into the mid-30s. Sunday had already been the hottest May day for nearly 80 years, after 32.3C was recorded at Kew Gardens in London.

But while large parts of the country are enjoying clear skies and unusually high temperatures, a weather map shows some areas are still missing out on the hottest conditions. A WXCharts temperature grid forecast for Monday at 3pm shows many parts of Scotland remaining below the 20C mark, despite cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen sitting slightly above it and only dropping below 20C early evening.

The cooler spots, in contrast, are mainly in the Highlands, the far north and western coastal areas. According to the map, areas around Inverness, Fort William, Ullapool, Wick, Thurso and parts of the Outer Hebrides are forecast to stay below 20C. The Northern Isles are also notably cooler, with parts of Orkney and Shetland sitting well under the threshold and the lowest temperature at around 11C.

Besides Scotland, Northern Ireland also has a few cooler areas, particularly around the northern and eastern coastline. Locations around Derry, Coleraine, Ballycastle, Donaghadee and Portaferry are shown hovering below or around 20C. Larne appears to be one of the coolest spots in Northern Ireland, with temperatures around 17C at 3pm. Belfast and inland parts of Northern Ireland look warmer, with readings generally above 20C.

The WXCharts map suggests most of the UK is firmly in warm or hot territory, making the very few sub-20C pockets stand out even more during one of the most talked-about May heat events in years. Either way, for anyone looking to escape the heat, options are fairly limited.

For those not as lucky to avoid the scorcher, the Met Office and UKHSA advise avoiding direct sunlight during the peak heat between 11 am and 3 pm. Stay cool by keeping windows and curtains shut when it is hotter outside, drinking plenty of water, wearing loose clothing, and avoiding strenuous physical activity.