UK set for warmest day of the year

The UK is set to experience the hottest day of the year so far on Friday, with temperatures soaring into the mid-30s, the Met Office has said. 

Parts of the country will be warmer than popular tourist destinations in Europe, including Berlin, Lisbon and Ibiza, where temperatures will reach 25C, 30C and 33C respectively. 

The weather will be hottest in southeastern areas of the UK and will peak at 35C in Greater London. 

The mercury will also rise above 30C in Manchester and parts of Wales.

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Rail union urges people not to crowd onto trains 

Rail union officials have told the public not to crowd onto trains this week, amid growing fears that the good weather may compromise social distancing. 

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said it was concerned about events scheduled to take place this weekend, including unofficial Pride celebrations in Brighton. 

This follows the cancellation of the official Brighton Pride because of the pandemic. 

Mick Lynch, the assistant general secretary of the union, 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," he added. 

Police measures to stop crowds at Bournemouth beach amid fears of overcrowding

The police are prepared to use cordons to stop Bournemouth beach from becoming overcrowded on Friday, amid fears that thousands of people will head there to make the most of the high temperatures.  

A surge in visitor numbers is expected on Friday as temperatures soar to over 30C on the south coast. 

This comes a month after a major incident was declared at the same beach because of overcrowding. 

Dorset Police, which has introduced measures such as high visibility patrols in hotspot areas, is urging people to behave respectfully and responsibly. 

Superintendent Richard Bell, of Dorset Police, said: “We have been working with partners throughout recent weeks to ensure we have a detailed plan in place to cope with the expected influx of visitors to our county during sunny spells this summer.”

“We are all keen to welcome visitors to our area but we want to ensure people enjoy what Dorset has to offer in a safe, respectful and responsible manner that does not place an additional strain on all emergency services and public resources,” he added.

Thunderstorms possible on Friday afternoon, Met Office warns

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning ahead of potential thunderstorms on Friday afternoon.

The UK's national weather service warned that lightning storms, large hailstones and power cuts could affect eastern England from 4pm, as a result of the heat and humidity. 

Lightning strikes may cause "some damage" to buildings and travel could be disrupted, the agency said. 

The warning comes on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far. 

Climate crisis having "increasing impact" on the UK, Met Office says 

The climate crisis is increasingly being felt in the UK, an annual climate report by the Met Office suggests. 

In 2019, the average temperature was 1.1C above levels experienced between 1961 and 1990.

The UK also had its hottest ever day last year, when a temperature of 38.7C was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens on 25 July. 

Additionally, a new winter record of 21.2C was set in 2019 at Kew Gardens in London, marking the first occasion the UK had seen temperatures rise above 20C during the winter. 

The climate emergency is also affecting the UK in other ways, with floods occurring in mid-June in Lincolnshire. 

Mike Kendon, the lead author of the study, said: "Our report shows climate change is exerting an increasing impact on the UK's climate.

"This year was warmer than any other year in the UK between 1884 and 1990, and since 2002 we have seen the warmest 10 years in the series.

"By contrast, to find a year in the coldest 10 we have to go back to 1963 - over 50 years ago."

Temperatures to drop significantly on Saturday

After the warmest day of the year so far on Friday, conditions will get cooler this weekend as a new weather front comes in from the west.

This will mean that London and Manchester will only see highs of 26C and 21C respectively on Saturday, around 10 degrees lower than the temperatures experienced in the cities on Friday. 

The colder conditions forecast for the weekend dash hopes of a heatwave, which the Met Office defines as a period of hot weather that lasts for a minimum of three consecutive days.

Thunderstorm warning issued for eastern England 

The Met Office has issued a thunderstorm warning for parts of eastern England on Friday afternoon. 

Hot air moving in from mainland Europe will cause the storms. 

In a tweet, the national weather service warns of "frequent lightning", "large hailstones" and "possible power cuts". 

Temperatures reach 33C at Heathrow Airport 

Temperatures reached 33C on Friday morning at Heathrow Airport, according to the Met Office. 

Despite the good weather in most areas of the country on Friday, the weather agency said that there are not blue skies everywhere.

Some rain will fall in Northern Ireland and western Scotland, while thunderstorms are likely to hit eastern England later in the afternoon. 

Highest temperature this year recorded on Friday 

The Met Office has confirmed that Friday is officially the hottest day of the year so far, after temperatures of 35C were recorded at Heathrow Airport. 

In a tweet, the weather service posted a breaking news graphic, with much of England coloured red to indicate the high temperatures that are being felt across the country. 

The accompanying text said that "the temperature will rise further this afternoon".

People enjoy the warm weather at Blackpool beach on 31 July, 2020. (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)