UK Weather: Hottest day of the year so far with temperatures topping 30C | UK Weather

Temperatures in the UK have reached their highest point of the year so far, the Met Office has confirmed, with temperatures of 31.2C recorded at Heathrow Airport in west London.

The high temperatures, recorded mainly in the eastern half of the country, came as the majority of schools in England and Wales were closed for the summer.

The highest temperature recorded in the UK in 2024 so far was 30.5°C (86.5°F), recorded in Wisley, Surrey, on June 26.

Temperatures in the UK are expected to reach 25-31C on Friday as the heatwave reaches its peak. However, many places have not reached 25C since the brief heatwave in late June.

Cooler weather will spread eastwards over the weekend with more typical July temperatures expected by Sunday.

The heatwave occurred with temperatures in July around 2°C below average, after a cooler start to the month.

The Met Office has reminded people to protect themselves from sunburn by applying SPF [sun protection factor sunscreen] and find shade, when possible, during the hottest hours of the day, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“Remember to protect yourself from strong sunlight, especially between 11am and 3pm, as UV levels will be very high in the south,” he said on X.

Heat health warnings were in force across the Midlands, east and south of England until 11am on Saturday.

These alerts are aimed primarily at health and social services, warning that the heat could affect older people and those with underlying health conditions.