Calm before the storm! Britain struggles through barmy night after 100F heat but rain is on the way
Calm before the storm? Britain struggles through a barmy night after 100F heat on third hottest day ever, but rain is on the way with winds and downpours predicted after sunseekers flocked to the beaches in droves
- Some thunderstorms are possible today with temperatures set to reach only 77F (25C)
- There was heavy traffic on roads at the start of the weekend in seaside resorts including Bournemouth
- But heat could end with a bang with Met Office warning of thunderstorms and 0.8in (20mm) rain
- Britain’s hottest day ever was recorded just last year when Cambridge got up to 101.7F (38.7C) on July 25
- Second hottest was August 10, 2003 with 101.3F (38.5C) and fourth was August 3, 1990 with 98.8F (37.1C)
By Mark Duell and Joe Middleton For Mailonline and Richard Marsden for the Daily Mail
Published: 02:32 EDT, 31 July 2020 | Updated: 20:10 EDT, 31 July 2020
It was calm before the storm this morning as rain was feared just 24 hours after sunseekers surged to beaches across Britain on what is the third hottest day ever recorded with temperatures hitting 100F.
On what was comfortably also the hottest day of 2020 so far, temperatures soared to 37.8C at London Heathrow on Friday afternoon, with even Leeds and Manchester reaching 88F (31C) and 79F (26C) in Newcastle and Wales.
Temperatures in England were mirroring those in Ibiza and the Costa del Sol, pleasing those whose holidays to Spain were cancelled, with the mercury now closing in on the all-time UK record of 101.7F (38.7C) set just last year.
But sun-drenched hours in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole could see rain today, with sizzle turning to drizzle in parts of the UK.
Yesterday saw Brighton and Hove City Council said it was ‘concerned’ about visitor numbers in the city, urging people to not travel there because it was ‘impossible’ to maintain social distancing amid limited capacity on public transport.
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.
After a very hot day, people wait for the sunset as it leaves a warm orange glow at the beach in Heacham, Norfolk
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine and sea at a packed Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon
Highlands End Holiday Park at Eype in Dorset is packed with tents, caravans and camper vans on a hot day today
Cars queue on the M5 southbound near Bristol this afternoon as people head on staycations across Britain
A tombstoner leaps off the Cobb harbour wall into the sea in front of a packed beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset earlier today
Families swam in the ornamental ponds in Battersea Park as a way of cooling down in the scorching weather on Friday, despite warning signs urging people not to enter the water
A daredevil tombstoner dives off the rock and into the sea at Durdle Door in Dorset on a day of scorching hot sunshine and clear blue skies
Holidaymakers and sunbathers generally kept their distance as they enjoyed the weather at Dorset’s Durdle Door today
Swimmers and paddleboarders enjoyed the turquoise sea as they flocked to the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset today
A long line of visitors, many armed with swimming equipment, make their way to the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset
The south west coast path from the car park was busy as holidaymakers and sunbathers flocked to the beach at Durdle Door
Visitors cram onto the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex on the hottest day of the year and the third hottest day ever today
Police officers were out in force at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh today on what was the third hottest day of all time in Britain
Bags of alcohol were confiscated from sunseeking drinkers at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh by police officers today
Thousands of people pack on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today on what is officially the hottest day of the year so far
A sign by Bournemouth beach in Dorset today tells people to ‘head home’ with the beach becoming overcrowded
Ambulance crews attend to a medical incident on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset which is packed this afternoon
A busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon, with car parks full and the traffic now coming to a standstill
Holidaymakers and sunbathers flock to the beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset this morning
Two women pose as they are photographed at Southend-on-Sea beach in Essex this afternoon
People enjoy the sunny weather at a beach at Brighton this afternoon as the East Sussex coast is packed with visitors
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
Women enjoy the weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon as the hot weather sweeps across Britain
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon
People enjoy the sunshine at Southend-on-Sea in Essex today as temperatures soar around the country
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
The park and ride bus in St Ives, Cornwall, is rammed with people this morning, making social distancing difficult
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
Police officers walk along Portobello Beach near Edinburgh this afternoon as temperatures soar across Britain today
People eat ice cream on Barry Island beach in South Wales today as the heat is enjoyed by Britons across the country
A pelican surprised a shocked sun seeker and tried to steal his tablet during the heatwave in St James’s Park, London, today
A group of young people were spotted ‘tombstoning’ from a pier in Dalgety Bay, Scotland, as the country enjoyed temperatures reaching almost 30C
Many car parks in Bournemouth are full and the traffic is coming to a standstill as people flock to the Dorset coast today
A fire breaks out on Eastbourne Pier in East Sussex this afternoon, but it was said to have been swiftly put out by firefighters
The A3, leading from London towards Portsmouth, has also closed in both directions at Thursley after a lorry caught fire, the Roads Policing Unit for Surrey Police announced on Twitter.
Drivers have been urged to avoid the area between Hindhead and Guildford after the ‘large vehicle fire’, which has since spread to the grass verge. The Hindhead Tunnel has closed as a result and the division route is currently via the A31 and A287.
Surrey Police said on Twitter: ‘Due to the size of the fire this may take some time to extinguish and then an assessment on the condition of the road will need to be made before we can safely re-open it. Please AVOID the A3 between Hindhead and Guildford area.’
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 101.7F (38.7C).
The UK’s second hottest day on record was August 10, 2003 in Faversham, Kent, which got up to 101.3F (38.5C), and that in turn broke a previous record observed on August 3, 1990 when Cheltenham reached 98.8F (37.1C).
Ambulance crews attend to a medical incident on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset this afternoon
A group of women stand in the sunshine on Bournemouth beach this afternoon which is packed with daytrippers
Children jump into the pool at Charlton Lido in South East London today as the temperature soars in the capital
July ends with a beautiful summer’s day as daytrippers pack into Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon
People take a splash in fountains by City Hall in London today, as temperatures reached a staggering 37.8C at Heathrow
Police officers walk along the promenade at Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon amid the hot weather
Sunseekers on a busy Bournemouth beach in Dorset today on what is the hottest day of the year so far
People walk along the seafront at St Ives in Cornwall this morning as temperatures soar across the country
Police attended Wandsworth Common where crowds of people were enjoying picnics and playing music in the heatwave
People are seen relaxing and swimming by the canal at Hackney Marshes in East London this afternoon
Cars parked next to the A470 as members of the public walk Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, in Brecon today
People use a zipline over Bournemouth beach as the Met Office said today is the hottest day of the year so far
Police officers walk through the crowds at Portobello Beach near Edinburgh this afternoon
A man sunbathes lying on a motorbike as people enjoy the sunny weather at Brighton beach in East Sussex today
Women jump into the sea at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this afternoon amid the scorching conditions
The beach at Southend in Essex is packed this afternoon as daytrippers head to the coast to soak up the sun
People ride on jet skis as they enjoy the sunny weather off Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon
Members of the public walk Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, in Brecon this afternoon
People enjoy the sunny weather at Brighton beach this afternoon as the UK experiences very hot conditions
The police walk through members of the public who have flocked to Portobello Beach near Edinburgh today
People enjoy the sunshine on Barry Island beach in South Wales today as the country experiences very hot weather
People flock to Porthmeor beach in Cornwall this morning on a warm and sunny for people across Britain
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
Masses of people enjoy the scorching weather on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh on the hottest day of the year
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
Cars queue on the M5 motorway southbound lanes near Bristol this afternoon
A child plays on the edge of a fountain at Trafalgar Square in London this afternoon as the heatwave conditions continue
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)
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
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.
Visitors flock to Brighton on the hottest day of 2020 so far as the Sussex coastal resort is packed with daytrippers
Visitors flock to Brighton on the hottest day of 2020 so far as people flock to the coast of East Sussex
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
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.’
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
People enjoy the weather at Barnard Castle in County Durham today as hot weather sweeps across Britain
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
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.
People are looking to hit Britain’s beaches and beauty spots as rising coronavirus cases in popular European destinations has put many off holidaying aborad.
