UK records hottest day of the year as temperatures hit 34.8C in Cambridge
12 August 2024, 13:36 | Updated: 12 August 2024, 17:35
Monday has been confirmed as the hottest day of the year after temperatures reached 34.8C in Cambridge, according to the Met Office.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
The record was first taken earlier in the day when temperatures reached 32.4C in Wisley, Surrey as the sweltering heats were confined to central and southern England.
Meanwhile, a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms had been in place for Scotland and the north of England were temperatures were set to remain below 30C.
Forecasters expect Monday to be the peak of the current spike in heat with temperatures set to ease off throughout the week.
The hottest day of 2024 so far was 19 July, when temperatures reached a 31.9C in central London.
This comes after a surge of warm air sweeping in from Europe caused temperatures to rise significantly across much of the country on Sunday.
Forecaster at the Met Office Craig Snell had said: "It's going to be hot."
He explained that the weather was set to bring a great deal of humidity, particularly to central eastern England, making conditions feel especially uncomfortable.
"Elsewhere," Snell noted, "it's still going to be warm and humid, but the hottest weather will be concentrated in central eastern England."
Manchester and Edinburgh were set to experience comparatively cooler, yet still warm, conditions, with highs of 26°C in Manchester and 21°C in Edinburgh.
The UK Health Security Agency had said a yellow heat health alert was in place for the East and West Midlands, East of England, South East, West, North West and London until Wednesday morning.
These are due to expire by Wednesday morning.
The alert suggested the hot weather may have a minor impact on health and the social care sector.
The Met Office also recommended people keep curtains shut during the hottest part of the day and drink plenty of water.
