Sunseekers flock to parks and seashores on hottest day for 2 years

Britain has enjoyed its hottest summer day in two years as the mercury hit 34.8C in Cambridge.

Sunseekers have made the most of the mini-heatwave by heading to parks and beaches to bask in the sunshine. 

However, it was an altogether different story for areas in the North of England and Scotland where a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms was in place today.

And the Met Office confirmed 15,000 lightning strikes were recorded across the UK in the 24 hours to midday today, with most of these in northern areas.  

The short-lived hot weather is expected to subside in the next few days with cooler temperatures forecasted as well as scattered showers across the country. 

But the warm temperatures are expected to linger tomorrow in the southeast of England – where the mercury could hit 29C (84.2f). 

The hot weather has been caused by a plume of hot and humid air being drawn up from Spain and France brought very hot and sunny weather to much of South East England and the Midlands.

The highest temperature recorded this evening was 34.8C (94.64F) in Cambridge, after the 2024 record was broken at 1pm at Wisley in Surrey with 32.4C (90.3F). 

London, East Anglia and the home counties could all get up to 33C (91F) – but conditions were wet in the North following 15,000 lightning strikes in 24 hours.

Today’s maximum easily beat the previous hottest day of 2024 which was July 30 when 32.0C (89.6F) was recorded in London at both Kew Gardens and Heathrow.

The day’s high also exceeded the highest temperature recorded in the UK last year which was 33.5C (92.3F) at Faversham in Kent on September 10, 2023.

But it will not get close to the 2022 high when Coningsby in Lincolnshire made it to 40.3C (104.5F) on July 19 – the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK.

The sudden heat is partly due to Tropical Storm Debby, which brought flooding to the eastern US before rolling through Canada last week. The UK was hotter today than Ibiza and Faro (both 29C), Malta (31C) and even Dakhla in Western Sahara (28C).

 But a thunderstorm warning was in place for Scotland and northern England until 1pm today with highs of only 26C (79F) in Manchester and 21C (70F) in Edinburgh.

National Rail warned today’s conditions could impact train services for different reasons, given heat can damage overhead lines, cause lineside fires or buckle rails; while heavy rainfall can bring flooding or affect points and signalling equipment.

In Wolverhampton, West Midlands Police confirmed a two-year-old boy had died after being pulled from a canal in the Ettingshall area of the city during hot weather yesterday afternoon. 

Police officers entered the water to get the boy before performing CPR, but he died in hospital.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said today: ‘It’s going to be hot. The weather is coming with a lot of humidity, so it will feel quite uncomfortable out there across central eastern England.

‘Elsewhere, it’s still going to be warm and humid, but the hottest weather will be in central eastern England.’

During the spell of hot weather, the Met Office recommends that people keep curtains closed during the peak of the day and drink lots of water.

But thunderstorms are expected in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England today, leading to torrential downpours in some areas.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the affected regions, telling drivers to expect spray on the roads and some road closures.

Mr Snell said: ‘Thunderstorms are already beginning to move into the Republic of Ireland.

‘They will start to move up into Northern Ireland later this evening and then move across Scotland and northern England as we go through the night and into tomorrow. It could be potentially quite nasty in places up there.’

He added: ‘Although we probably won’t see that severe weather across the south, that system will gradually bring some cooler temperatures to all parts as we go through Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs back up to the high 20s rather than mid 30s.’

Tomorrow will still be very warm in East Anglia and the South East with temperatures up to 27C (81F) or 28C (82F).

The jet-stream pattern in the Atlantic is expected to straighten again with more changeable weather later in the week.

By Wednesday, temperatures will be in the low to mid 20Cs – average for this time of year.

The Met Office says a warm snap is officially considered a heatwave if a location records at least three days in a row with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value. 

This is 25C (77F) for most of the UK – rising to 28C (82F) in London.

Because that threshold is unlikely to be hit for three days in a row, this current warm period can likely only be unofficially defined as a ‘mini heatwave’. 

Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist for the Met Office, said: ‘A breeze is going to pick up through the South West and into parts of the Irish Sea and then we will start to see thunderstorms breaking out, moving their way north and eastwards.

‘At first, we could see some in the west, but the greatest risk is going to be across Northern Ireland and then later into North East England and into Scotland.

‘Expect some frequent lightning, some gusty winds and some torrential downpour.

‘That then clears its way north and eastwards, so turning brighter across parts of Scotland in the late afternoon and into Northern Ireland as well.

‘Elsewhere will be seeing a good deal of sunshine. 

‘Further towards the south there will be a hot and humid feel to the day, with highs of up to possibly 34C.’

A yellow heat health alert has been issued for the East and West Midlands, East of England, South East and South West, North West and London by the UK Health Security Agency until 9am on Wednesday.

The alert means those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly with multiple health conditions, are likely to struggle to cope with the heat, and action may be required within the health and social care sector.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said any older person living with health conditions should stay as cool as they can and advised friends and neighbours to offer help with picking up prescriptions or groceries.

She said: ‘Ageing bodies find it difficult to deal with extremes of temperature, so even if you are someone who has always loved the heat this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll find a day like today as pleasant and easy to deal with as you used to.

‘It pays to know your own body, and to stay in touch with it as it changes over the years, but certainly if you are living with serious heart or lung conditions then it’s important to avoid getting too hot.

‘There are some simple tips we can follow to stay safe and well in the heat but for most of us it’s largely a matter of exercising common sense.’

The RAC urged drivers to check the coolant and oil levels in their vehicles as high temperatures increase the risk of vehicle breakdowns and cars overheating.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: ‘To prepare for all eventualities, it’s a good idea to carry a few important items with you such as plenty of water and food, sunscreen, an umbrella for shade, and a portable battery pack and cable to keep your mobile phone well charged.

‘Those driving vehicles without effective air conditioning should consider delaying any non-essential journeys by car until tomorrow when the Met Office forecast no longer applies or wait to use the car in cooler temperatures this evening.

‘This is especially important for vulnerable people, including the very young and elderly, for whom the extremely high temperatures pose a clear health risk. We also want to remind drivers never to leave pets in a hot car, which can prove fatal.’

Elsewhere, West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the water off Hendon Avenue in Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, around 6pm yesterday evening.

A spokeswoman said: ‘On arrival, crews found a boy, who had been pulled from the water by police colleagues, in a critical condition.

‘He was receiving basic life support by officers and ambulance staff immediately took over to administer advanced life support.

‘Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, the child could not be saved and he was confirmed dead at the scene.’

Police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances around the boy’s death.

Last week, a 33-year-old man was found dead in a river in Coventry, West Midlands Police said.

Officers were called to Upper Spon Street on August 6, where the man was found.