Ready to sizzle! Britain is set for its hottest day of the year TODAY as temperatures soar to 95F
Staycation stampede! Twelve mile traffic jams on roads to south-west with 20% MORE cars than normal as Brits who can’t holiday abroad try to make most of 97F heat on hottest day of the year
- Hottest places today are in South East England with London Heathrow already hitting 95F (35C) by noon
- Even Leeds and Manchester will reach 88F (31C), while 79F (26C) is expected in Newcastle and West Wales
- Some thunderstorms are possible this afternoon before temperatures will reach only 77F (25C) tomorrow
- Heavy traffic on roads into seaside resorts including Bournemouth with people urged to avoid town’s beach
- Heat could end with a bang this afternoon with Met Office warning of thunderstorms and 0.8in (20mm) rain
By Mark Duell and Joe Middleton For Mailonline and Richard Marsden for the Daily Mail
Published: 02:32 EDT, 31 July 2020 | Updated: 09:14 EDT, 31 July 2020
Sunseekers surged to beauty spots and beaches across Britain today to enjoy a day out or staycation on what is the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures hitting 95F (35C) as early as midday.
The blistering heat will encourage more to focus on enjoying their summer at home, with many coastal favourites now fully booked until the end of September as holidaymakers opt for UK breaks rather than risking foreign travel.
The hottest places today are in London and the South East, which could see 97F (36C). However, even Leeds and Manchester are set to reach 88F (31C), while 79F (26C) is expected in Newcastle upon Tyne and in West Wales.
Temperatures in England are mirroring those in Ibiza and Spain’s Costa del Sol, with the mercury hitting 95F (35C) at London Heathrow Airport at noon today – not far off the all-time UK record of 101.3F (38.7C) set last year.
Traffic was heavy on various major roads into seaside resorts this morning, including the A23 into Brighton, and M27 and A31 into Bournemouth – with congestion in the Dorset town up 18 per cent on normal 2019 levels. One video revealed cars moving very slowly on the A31 at Ringwood, which is 12 miles away from Bournemouth.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said on its ‘beach check’ app that people should ‘avoid’ the beaches at Bournemouth East and West, Sandbanks and Mudeford where ‘safe social distancing is not possible’.
Sussex Police said ‘Camber is now full’, asking daytrippers not to travel there and warning that high numbers of visitors have previously caused traffic jams that have led to problems for the emergency services trying to get in.
But the heat could end with a bang later this afternoon, with the Met Office issuing a warning for thunderstorms and up to 0.8in (20mm) of rain in an hour in some areas of eastern England between 4pm and midnight.
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon
A busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon, with car parks full and the traffic now coming to a standstill
Highlands End Holiday Park at Eype in Dorset is packed with tents, caravans and camper vans on a hot day today
Holidaymakers and sunbathers flock to the beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset this morning
Tourists flock to Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as the UK enjoys a spell of very hot weather
Families enjoy the hot weather in the sea and on the beach at Joss Bay in Broadstairs, Kent, this morning
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon
A group of women make the most of the sunshine in Brighton this morning as they go out on a paddle board
People take a selfie in front of the entrance of the Brighton Palace Pier in the East Sussex resort this afternoon
People bathe in the sea near Brighton Pier in East Sussex this morning during the very hot weather
Holidaymakers flock to the beach at West Bay in Dorset today as further heatwaves are expected across the country
A busy Bournemouth beach is pictured today as crowds gather at the tourist hotspot on the Dorset coast
Three women row a boat as they enjoy the hot weather on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire today
People eat ice cream on Barry Island beach in South Wales today as the heat is enjoyed by Britons across the country
Many car parks in Bournemouth are full and the traffic is coming to a standstill as people flock to the Dorset coast today
Forecasters warned of damage to some buildings from lightning strikes, power cuts, delays to train services, flooding to some homes and businesses and driving conditions being affected by spray, standing water and hail.
Foreign summer holidays are now looking increasingly risky after the Government’s last-minute announcement on Sunday that those travelling from Spain now need to self-isolate for 14 days following a spike in cases.
But disappointed holiday-goers no longer going abroad will be pleased that popular spots in Europe including Ibiza, Lisbon and Berlin will fall short of the UK high, reaching 91F (33C), 86F (30C) and 77F (25C) respectively.
Before today, Britain’s warmest day of 2020 so far was June 25 with 92.1F (33.4C) recorded at Heathrow, while the hottest day ever recorded in the UK was July 25 last year when Cambridge got up to 101.3F (38.7C).
Sunseekers on a busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset today on what is the hottest day of the year so far
People ride on jet skis as they enjoy the sunny weather off Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon
People enjoy the sunny weather at Brighton beach this afternoon as the UK experiences very hot conditions
People enjoy the sunshine on Barry Island beach in South Wales today as the country experiences very hot weather
Swimmers at Charlton Lido in South East London this morning swim lengths as the temperature rises in the capital
Women sunbathe on the beach at Brighton in East Sussex this morning on what will be the hottest day of the year so far
A full car park at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today as people head to the coast on day trips and staycations
Holidaymakers and sunbathers flock to the beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset on a sweltering day across the country
Nora Islam, four, is dressed for the hot weather on her visit to Somerset Lavender Farm in Faulkland this morning
People enjoy the morning sun at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today on what will be the hottest day of 2020
People head to the beach at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this morning on another hot day for Britain
Surfers walk along Branksome beach in Bournemouth this morning ahead of what is expected to be the hottest day of the year
A woman plays volleyball in Brighton this morning as visitors enjoy the sunshine on the East Sussex coast
Holidaymakers flock to the beach at West Bay in Dorset today amid high temperatures across the country
People enjoy the hot weather at Blackpool beach in Lancashire today as temperature soar into the 90Fs
The current warm spell is due to a plume of warm air being drawn north from France and Spain (as displayed above)
Yesterday, thousands descended on resorts from Cornwall to sunspots such as Lyme Regis in Dorset and Camber Sands in East Sussex as they soaked up the heat – mirroring scenes in May as lockdown restrictions were eased.
Fears over Pride events and heat affecting social distancing on railways
Rail union officials have urged passengers to avoid crowding onto trains this weekend amid fears that unofficial Pride events and the hot weather may compromise social distancing.
The official Brighton Pride has been cancelled due to the virus pandemic, but the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said a combination of unofficial events and other attractions on a hot weekend have sparked concerns among its members.
Assistant general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘RMT has a strong history of supporting Brighton Pride and the organisers took the correct decision to postpone it this year in light of the pandemic to ensure everyone’s safety.
‘However, we have been made aware that unofficial events have been organised this weekend which, combined with other attractions could lead to a surge of passengers that compromises social distancing and safety measures and it’s important that is not allowed to happen.’
The union said it wanted to avoid placing rail staff or the public at risk.
The sea at Woolacombe in Devon was busy with surfers as families crowded on to the popular beach. Holiday sites in the South West of England are getting booked up for the rest of the season amid the staycation boom.
A survey by MailOnline yesterday checked with 20 of the top campsites in Cornwall and 15 in Dorset if they had any space for two adults to stay a week from today. Not one had a spare lodge, pitch or campervan space.
In other places prices have soared, with one four-star hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, costing almost £350 a night. The current warm spell is due to a plume of warm air being drawn north from France and Spain.
Beachgoers have been urged to take precautions, including wearing sun cream and hats, as levels of ultraviolet radiation are predicted to be high.
But the heatwave is not due to last long as cooler conditions will move in through tomorrow and Sunday.
Andy Page from the Met Office said: ‘The bulk of England and Wales will have dry, very warm and sunny weather to end the week with Friday likely to be the hottest day of the year so far for the UK.
‘A few thunderstorms are possible later on Friday and then a cold front moves eastwards by Saturday.’
Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to reach only 77F (25C) in London and East Anglia. Further west and north, temperatures are unlikely to exceed 72F (22C).
The heatwave comes after what forecasters describe as an ‘autumnal’ start to the week, when an ‘unseasonably deep area of low pressure crossed the UK’.
It brought winds of up to 50mph, while 35.8mm (1.4 inches) of rain was recorded in Shap, Cumbria, on Monday.
The current warm spell, which began yesterday, involves a plume of warm air being drawn north from France and Spain by southerly winds.
The only respite from the heat could be in parts of Devon and Cornwall, where there is a chance of cloudier conditions.
Isolated thundery showers could be sparked by the high temperatures. A mixture of sunny spells, cloud and scattered showers is expected on Sunday.
Tomorrow and on Sunday, temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of only 77F (25C) in London and East Anglia
Traffic was heavy on various major roads into seaside resorts this morning, including the M27 and A31 into Bournemouth
Tourists flock to Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, this afternoon as temperatures soar into the 90Fs in Britain
‘Lido Ladies of London’ Nicola Foster and Jessica Walker enjoy the heatwave at Hillingdon Sports and Leisure complex today
A general view of people gathered on the beach at Whitmore Bay on Barry Island in South Wales this afternoon
Two women sit in front of a tent on Barry Island beach in South Wales today as the UK experiences very hot weather
Rosie Lyle 21, Megan Stewart, 20, and Lois Shiel, 20, soak in the sun on the hottest day of the year in South Queensferry today
A woman reads a book under shade on Barry Island beach in South Wales amid the hot conditions this afternoon
People enjoy the hot weather at Blackpool beach in Lancashire today as the UK basks in hot weather
People enjoy the hot weather during a punt ride along the River Cam in Cambridge this afternoon
People sunbathe on Barry Island beach in South Wales today as they make the most of the hot weather
Pepole put up tents and lay towels on Bournemouth beach today as Britain enjoys temperatures into the 90Fs
A full car park next to Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as the UK enjoys scorching temperatures
People sit on the sand on a busy Bournemouth beach today as temperatures rise into the 90Fs across Britain
People queue outside a beach shop in Bournemouth today as the UK experiences extremely hot weather
People walk along the promenade on a busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset today, with car parks full and the beach packed
A woman goes paddle boarding as she enjoys the hot weather in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire this afternoon
A busy Bournemouth beach is pictured, with car parks full and the traffic now coming to a standstill on the roads into Dorset
People enjoy the morning sun at the Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, today on a hot day for much of Britain
A woman goes paddle boarding at the Waterland Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, this morning
People paddle in the sea on Barry Island beach in South Wales this afternoon as daytrippers enjoy the warm weather
A woman cools herself down with an electric fan as she looks at her phone on the London Underground this morning
Families enjoy the hot weather in the sea and on the beach at Joss Bay in Broadstairs, Kent, this morning
A swimmer enjoys the warm weather at Charlton Lido in South East London this morning as they swim lengths
People walk towards the sand on Branksome beach in Bournemouth this morning on a very hot day for Britain
A woman at Charlton Lido in South East London this morning swim lengths as the temperature rises in the capital
Sunseekers sit on Branksome beach in Bournemouth this morning with people pitching up early for the hot day ahead
Joggers run along the seafront at Branksome beach in Bournemouth this morning on what will be a hot day for Britain
Heavy summer traffic has severely slowed traffic on the southbound M5 motorway in Britsol at Junction 17 today
Walkers out and about early on what is set to be the hottest day of July at Emmer Green in Reading, Berkshire, this morning
People go out enjoying the beautiful weather as they make their way along the Long Walk in Windsor this morning
People enjoy the weather in Windsor this morning as the country makes the most of the hot temperatures today
Two people enjoy the morning sunshine on Wimbledon Common in South West London today as temperatures soar
Two people go out on a stroll in the morning sunshine on Wimbledon Common in South West London today
A busy mobile home site in the Galloway area of Scotland this morning as Britons turn to staycations
A busy caravan and camping parks in the Galloway area of Scotland this morning as Britons go on staycations
For the first week and a half of August, the Met Office predicts the unsettled conditions ‘are likely to continue, with outbreaks of rain and scattered showers affecting all parts of the United Kingdom at times’.
Its forecast for the next ten days states: ‘The heaviest and most prolonged spells of rain are likely to be focussed towards the northwest, where it may also become quite windy at times with a risk of gales in exposed locations.
‘However, there should still be some drier and brighter spells in between the outbreaks of rain, with the driest of these conditions expected towards the South East.
‘Temperatures are likely to be slightly below average for this time of year, but perhaps near normal towards the South East.’
Sussex Police said in a tweet today that ‘Camber is now full’, asking daytrippers not to travel there and warning that high numbers of visitors have previously caused traffic jams that have led to problems for the emergency services trying to get in
Sunrise over the fishing boats in the English Channel near Selsey near Chichester in West Sussex this morning
Wild swimmers enjoy the sunrise at Portobello in Edinburgh this morning at the start of a very hot day for Britain
The sun rises as seen from Hampstead Heath in North London today on what is set to be the hottest day of the year so far
The sun rises behind a view of St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London today as temperatures surge into the 90Fs
Sunrise over a field of thistles at Orston in Nottinghamshire today on what is expected to be the hottest day of 2020 so far
Sunrise over Kilvington Lakes in the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire today on what will be a very hot day for Britain
MailOnline surveyed the 20 best campsites in Cornwall according to campsites.co.uk and found the likes of Little Trevothan Camping & Caravan Park in Helston and Polruan Holidays in Fowey are full until the end of August
The short-lived heatwave comes at the end of an unseasonably chilly July. The UK average temperature for this July is currently on course to be just 57.4F (14.1C) – lower than the 1981-2010 long-term average of 59.3F (15.2C).
Britain has already surpassed 100 per cent of the average monthly rainfall and only experienced two thirds (66 per cent) of the expected sunshine for an average July, a total of 113.4 hours, Met Office figures show.
It said: ‘We’ve not seen a temperature anywhere above 30C so far or even with a three in it, that is quite unusual for July. In terms of shifting the overall weather stats for the month, it’s not going to do much to the average.’
The top temperature yesterday was 85.5F (29.7C) at Heathrow, which was the hottest day of July until today.
