Brits are set to enjoy yet another scorcher as the record-breaking September heatwave pushes into its seventh day.
The UK has now sweltered through six days of temperatures above 30C this month. It is the first time since 1911 that the UK’s maximum temperature has exceeded 30C (86F) for more than three days.
Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, with 32.7C recorded in Heathrow, smashing a record set just 48 hours earlier.
Despite today seeing similar temperatures and sunshine, forecasters said much of the country will see fierce thunderstorms.
A yellow thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland, northern parts of England and Wales as well as southern Scotland has been issued by the Met Office from 2pm until 11.59pm today. There is also a similar warning for Monday in the north of England and Scotland.
A dog walker on Wimbledon common, south west London, in the bright morning sunshine
The sun rises this morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, on what is set to be another 30C day
People pack on to the beach during a busy September Saturday in Bournemouth
Friends from London cool off in the sea at Brighton Beach, East Sussex, yesterday
The UK has now sweltered through six days of temperatures above 30C in September for the first time. Today will see high temperatures across the country
A yellow thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland , northern parts of England and Wales as well as southern Scotland has been issued by the Met Office from 2pm until 11.59pm today
The warning means some people could be in store for flash flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds – with possible interruptions to road access and public transport.
Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said: ‘As we go into the start of Sunday those showers across the South West will make their way north-eastwards into Wales and the Midlands and later on into northern England, Northern Ireland, and southern Scotland.
‘Now these showers could be heavy and thundery too. So we do have a yellow thunderstorm warning out for those northern regions that I mentioned.’
She said that things will start to ‘brighten up a little’ into Sunday afternoon, with the best weather seen in the South East.
‘It is (in the South East) that we will see those highest temperatures once again reaching into the low 30s, with 31-32C the forecast high for Sunday,’ she said.
‘And that would make it the seventh consecutive day that we’ve seen 30C recorded somewhere in the UK this September.’
The next few days will start to see cooler temperatures across the UK, with tomorrow predicted to see showers in the southeast.
The rain will eventually clear on Tuesday, leaving mostly dry and sunny conditions while Wednesday will see a cooler start with some sunshine and further showers later in the day.
A couple in a kayak pass punters on the River Cam in Cambridge
Raich Keene and Raphael the retriever on a sunny back beach at Teignmouth, Devon, yesterday morning
The glorious weather is not going to extend into next week as rain will come to many parts of the country
A second thunderstorm warning has been issued for Monday in the far north of England and Scotland
Yesterday saw Brighton beach packed with parasols as 150,000 day-trippers flocked to the Sussex resort, while Blackpool pulled in 100,000 visitors.
This week’s hot weather has triggered a fresh wave of health warnings, amid fears the NHS will come under pressure, as those with heart conditions or breathing difficulties are put at most risk.
An amber heat health alert remains in place until 9pm today, meaning there are increased risks to elderly and vulnerable groups. Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, urged people to check on friends and relatives.
Some events have also been cancelled, including Dogfest, which was due to take place this weekend at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire but was called off after the weather conditions were deemed ‘not in the best interests of dogs’.
The scorching conditions are making the UK warmer than Malaga on the Costa del Sol, which is only set to reach 28C (82F).
Supermarkets reported soaring demand for summer food and drink products, with Tesco estimating it would be up to 80 per cent higher this weekend than in mid-July.
Meanwhile Toolstation said sales of watering cans have increased by 107 per cent compared to the previous week, and up 84 per cent compared to this time last year
Sales of cooling fans have risen by a whopping 1,704 per cent, while water sprinklers are up by 465 per cent and hoses have risen by 88 per cent in the same timeframe.
Lakeland added that sales of ice cream makers are up by 483 per cent week on week – although, bizarrely, heated blankets are also up 192 per cent week on week.
Meanwhile Waitrose said sales of burgers were up 29 per cent compared to the same time last year, ice cream sales up 49 per cent and rosé sales up 28 per cent.
Searches for ‘Ice lolly’ on Waitrose.com have risen 60 per cent in the last week, while ‘bbq food’ is up 29 per cent and ‘picnic bag’ is up 200 per cent.
