UK sees the hottest day of the year so far

The UK recorded its hottest day of 2026 on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 38.1C in west London.

It was also the fifth hottest day on record in the country, and beat the previous record of 38C set in Norfolk in June.

Temperatures are expected to remain high on Friday in Wales, as well as in parts of England, where an amber heat-health alert is in place until 9pm.

Elsewhere, cooler conditions will begin to move into northern and western parts of the UK, although temperatures will mainly remain above average.

The temperature of 38.1C was recorded at Kew Gardens in west London on Thursday afternoon.

The latest spell of extreme hot weather marks the UK's fifth heatwave this year, with the Met Office - the UK's national weather service - warning this summer is on course to be the UK's hottest since records began.

The intense heat this summer has made 2026 the first year on record to see three separate days where temperatures reached at least 37C.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was on 19 July 2022 when temperatures in Lincolnshire reached 40.3C.

That marked the first and only day that readings above 40C ever have been recorded in the UK.

Friday is predicted to be cooler than Thursday, although many parts of England may still see temperatures above 30C.

As a result, a series of amber health alerts are still in place across England until 9pm tonight, because of the hot weather.

An amber alert means the heat could affect people's health, especially older people and those with medical conditions.

Weather experts say that elsewhere, cooler conditions will begin to move into northern and western parts of the UK.

However temperatures will mainly stay higher than average - widely reaching the low to mid-20s Celsius.

Most of the UK will stay dry over the weekend, but rain is expected to arrive next week as an area of low pressure moves across the country.

Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see most of the rain on Monday.