UK records warmest day of the year so far as temperatures hit 29.4C
The UK has recorded its warmest day of the year so far with temperatures hitting 29.4C, the Met Office has said.
It came as the forecasting service announced thunderstorms were 'pushing into' the Channel, leading to an amber weather warning for severe thunderstorms that will come into force at 8pm on Friday.
A Met Office spokesperson said: 'We have now provisionally had the warmest day of the year so far with 29.4C at Santon Downham in Suffolk.'
The UK Health Security Agency has also issued its first yellow heat-health alert this year, running until 8am on Sunday in the east of England, East Midlands, London, and the south-east.
This means there could be an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, including those over 65 and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
The heat and humidity could spark 'very severe weather' overnight, Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said.
The amber thunderstorm alert, covering parts of East Anglia and eastern parts of East Sussex and Kent until 5am on Saturday, advises of the risk of torrential rain, large hail, frequent lightning and gusty winds.
It added that the storms could lead to road flooding, difficult driving conditions, power cuts and flooding of homes and businesses.
Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Environment Agency teams have ensured rivers and watercourses are clear ahead of the storms and stand ready to support local authorities in their response to surface water flooding.
'We urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.'
Yellow thunderstorm warnings are also in place for much of southern and south-western England and Wales between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Another warning is in place across eastern and southern Scotland from midnight to 6pm on Saturday, with northern and south-western England and Wales also affected.
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