By Bryony Gooch
The UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far as temperatures hit 33C and much of the country swelters in heatwave conditions.
A high of 33.5C was recording in East Malling, Kent, on Tuesday, according to BBC weather forecasters, with predictions that temperatures could still peak at 35C across the south east of England.
Much of England has faced warnings of extreme heat this week as Monday brought the hottest start to Wimbledon on record and temperatures shot up to a maximum of 33.1C in Heathrow.
The previous warmest opening day on record was on 25 June 2001, when temperatures hit 29.3C.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: 鈥淲e got to 33.1C yesterday at Heathrow, and we鈥檙e expecting to be just a touch beyond that in London today, possibly getting up to around 35C in London in particular.鈥
Mr Dixon said Tuesday was likely to mark 鈥渢he peak of this current heatwave in terms of absolute temperatures we鈥檙e expecting鈥.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a continuation of recent days in the South East in particular, with those temperatures well beyond average for the time of year, in a fairly notable heatwave,鈥 he added.
It is the second heatwave for parts of the UK within the last month, as Europe more widely is facing searing temperatures in the high thirties with wildfires across Turkey and Greece.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended amber heat health alerts covering London, the East Midlands, South East, South West, Yorkshire and Humber, the West Midlands and East of England, until 9am on Wednesday.
Alerts provide a warning system to authorities and the public to show when temperatures may hit dangerous levels, impacting health and social care services. They are colour coded from green (no alert), yellow, amber, to red (emergency response).
A yellow alert indicates that weather conditions may affect vulnerable people, while an amber alert warns that conditions could impact the wider population, putting pressure on health services.
A heatwave is declared when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
It seems that Tuesday will be the peak of the heatwave, as temperatures are set to drastically descend to the low twenties, with balmy peaks of 21-23C in the south of England. A cooler, wetter front over Scotland and the north of England will gradually move south-eastwards.
鈥淚t鈥檚 already bringing some rain to parts of Scotland through the day today, and will gradually move southwards through the day today and overnight tonight,鈥 Mr Dixon said.
鈥淭omorrow will be feeling fresher for many, with temperatures more likely to kind of get into the mid-20s, and some showery rain, particularly in some eastern coasts, through the day tomorrow as well.鈥
Forecasters say conditions will stay relatively dry throughout the week in the South with the weekend looking more unsettled, with frequent showers, particularly in western areas.
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