Temperatures have surged above 37C in some parts of England, making it the UK’s hottest day of the year so far.
A provisional 38.1C was recorded in Kew Gardens, surpassing the previous high of 38C on June 28, the Met Office confirmed.
The only other time temperatures have reached 38C in a single year was in 2022 when the UK recorded its hottest ever days.
It also means Thursday is the fifth hottest day on record.
England is under an amber warning for extreme heat as it grapples with the fifth heatwave this summer.
The season has brought extremely dry weather and drought conditions for much of England and Wales, making much of the land ripe for wildfire conditions.
Some 24 possible large fires have been detected across the UK in the past 24 hours, according to Sky News.
The blazes have affected a combined area of around 29 square kilometres during the past 24 hours, the highest figure recorded so far this summer.
The previous daily high was 26.2 sq km on 12 July.
Parts of the country are enjoying temperatures that far surpass what is being felt in tourist hotspots on the continent.
Barcelona and Benidorm are today expected to experience temperatures of 33C at most.
The Met Office yesterday issued an amber heat warning across central England, saying Britons from Sheffield to south London can expect abnormal heat from 9am to midnight on Thursday.
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The wider population is “likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion”, forecasters warned.
The Met Office anticipated possible highs of 38C, but Kew Gardens has seen a slightly higher thermometer reading.
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