Heatwave live: Hottest day of year so far in UK as temperatures exceed 33C - with red warnings and highs of 40C in Europe

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This afternoon's forecast with fresher air on the way

A bit more from the Met Office now.

Meteorologist Alex Burkill has given an afternoon weather forecast for the UK, and he has some welcome news for those in the south struggling with the heat.

"I may have some welcome news for you, because things are going to be turning fresher, yes we still have the hot humid air across parts of the South East... but the fresher air that's across the rest of the country is going to be pushing its way through as we go through the next 24 hours," he said, meaning "something a bit more comfortable coming your way".

But looking at this afternoon's forecast, he said the "three-way split" we reported on earlier, see our 6.41 post, remains largely in place.

Cloud and rain

Across a "slice of the country" from southern Scotland, to northern England, into Wales and touching the South West, there are going to be clouds and showers.

Some of that rain is even going to be a bit heavy at times.

Clear skies

Then further north, in northern and western parts of Scotland and in Northern Ireland, there's bright, dry weather with some sun on offer.

Heatwave

But then in central, southern and eastern parts of England, there is going to be considerably more sunshine and heat.

He described it as "almost unbroken" blue skies there.

It's officially the hottest day of the year so far

Today is the hottest day of the year so far.

Frittenden in Kent has reached 33.6C – with plenty of time for it to get hotter as it was recorded at 11.19GMT. This beats yesterday's peak of 33.1C. 

At Heathrow Airport today, temperatures have reached 33.2C, with several other areas across the South East hotter than 32C.

The previous high for the year was 33.2C, which was recorded on 21 June in Charlwood, Surrey.

However, it's unlikely to be the hottest day for July, with 2022 seeing the month experience 40C heat.

Why are gritters needed for roads in a heatwave as well as the cold?

Central Bedfordshire Council has sent out gritters on its roads during the heatwave to help keep motorists safe.

While most of us may associate gritters with cold weather and frozen roads, they have a use in the heat as well.

When there are very high road surface temperatures, tarmac can soften, leading to surface damage.

Central Bedfordshire Council said in a post on Monday: "To prevent this, we’re sending out gritters to spread a fine layer of crushed stone. 

"This helps protect the road surface and provides extra grip for vehicles. 

"You might not expect to see gritters in summer, but it's an important part of looking after our roads during extreme weather conditions."

Temperatures already at 32.6C 'with several hours of heating left to go'

We've just heard from our meteorologist Jo Robinson.

She's been speaking to presenter Gareth Barlow, and told him that temperatures have already reached 32.6C as of midday today.

Yesterday peaked at 33.1C, but today we still have "several hours of heating left to go", Robinson says.

The latest from England as the South East heats up

Here are some of the latest pictures from parts of England hit by the hot weather today.

In Hyde Park, horse riders kicked up dust in the dry conditions.

Then, in Baitings Reservoir, near Ripponden, a usually submerged bridge was revealed due to the ongoing heat causing water levels to fall.

National Trust rangers on 'high alert' over wildfires

National Trust rangers are on "high alert" over wildfires during the ongoing heatwave.

Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust, said such fires could cause "decades of damage" to habitats.

He added that the majority of fires in the UK that hurt the natural environment were started by people, not natural causes.

In a statement, he said: "With record-breaking temperatures across the country this week following the driest spring on record, our ranger and countryside teams are on high alert for fires which can cause decades of damage to habitats, decimate ecosystems and result in significant losses to our wildlife.

"Unfortunately, the sad truth is that most of the fires in the UK that impact our landscapes are started by people – whether accidentally or not – rather than by natural causes.

"Therefore we're calling on people to help us protect wildlife and habitats by acting responsibility when outdoors as even a small spark can cause a fire, and to please call 999 if you see a fire or any suspicious behaviour."

Beyond British shores, Europe burns

If you thought the heat was bad in parts of England, spare a thought for those on the continent.

The Eiffel Tower is partly shut, Barcelona reported its hottest June in more than a century, there are wildfires in Turkey and 17 of Italy's 27 major cities are experiencing a heatwave.

Temperatures are reaching 40C in places and are due to stay unusually high.

Here's the latest from the continent:

40C heat

France and much of Europe remain in the grip of the summer's first major heatwave.

Health warnings are in effect in France today, even with conditions to improve in some parts.

Paris and other areas will likely see 40C, with the country's national weather agency, Meteo-France, placing several areas under the highest red alert.

The Paris region is particularly hard hit.

Visitors to the Eiffel Tower have been told they won't be able to visit its summit, and those without tickets were told to postpone their visits altogether.

The top of France's most famous landmark will remain closed until at least tomorrow.

Meteo-France also warned of the increased risk of wildfires due to drought-hit soil, a lack of rain and the recent surge in temperatures.

The hottest June since records began

In Spain, Barcelona reported its hottest June since records began.

This goes back more than a century.

Authorities in the city were also investigating whether a street sweeper's death was caused by the intense heatwave.

The woman, who had been cleaning the old town area on Saturday afternoon, died later that day, her sister told the Antena 3 TV station.

Temperatures reached 30.4C in Barcelona on Saturday, weather agency AEMET said.

Italy, Portugal and beyond

Italy hasn't escaped the heat either.

Of the country's 27 major cities, 17 are experiencing a heatwave.

In Portugal, Lisbon was forecast to reach 33C - which is typical for this time of year.

But the national weather agency said some inland areas could see peaks of 43C.

June temperature records were broken in two locations in Portugal on 29 June.

In Turkey, emergency services have battled wildfires, with homes razed in the Bilecik province.

Prague zookeepers took to dumping ice cubes into the enclosures of polar bears to try to help them keep cool in the Czech Republic.

Climate change

Climate experts warn that future summers are likely to be hotter than any before.

By the end of the century, France could be 4C warmer, with temperatures exceeding 40C annually.

Extreme heat spikes, in this scenario, could potentially hit 50C.

Can you drink too much water during a heatwave?

While it may seem the obvious response, drinking too much water during a heatwave can be harmful.

"If you drink in excess, you wash important minerals out of your body," says Chloe Brimicombe, from the Royal Meteorological Society.

When you drink too much, your kidneys can't get rid of the excess and the sodium content of your blood becomes diluted - this is called hyponatremia, and it can be life-threatening.

Drinking too much water can also overwhelm the kidneys' ability to excrete excess fluid. 

Symptoms of hyponatremia include confusion, irritability, headaches, drowsiness and a bloated stomach, among others. 

The recommended amount

It is essential to drink water when you feel thirsty, particularly during a heatwave. 

The recommended amount of water to drink on an average day is between 1.5 to 2 litres. 

But try to avoid overwhelming your body by consuming vast quantities in a short period of time. 

You will be able to tell if you are properly hydrated by the colour of your urine - if it is light yellow, you are drinking enough. If it is colourless, you may be drinking too much, and if it is a dark yellow, not enough.

You can also ensure your sodium levels remain stable by mixing in different liquids, such as electrolytes, fruit juice or squash. 

Over-the-counter rehydration sachets are also available if you think you may be beginning to show signs of heat exhaustion. 

Advice for keeping children safe during the heatwave

What is the advice for childcare settings in the heat as there is no maximum temperature level?

Another question from one of our readers now.

In childcare settings, there isn't a legally defined maximum temperature, according to the National Education Union.

Instead, the Workplace Regulations require that all reasonable steps be taken to achieve comfortable temperatures.

This includes everything from necessary shade and cool places to keeping children hydrated and ensuring proper ventilation of spaces.

This is because during the heat, children can get heat stress, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

The government's Department for Education advice says: "Children can be at risk from hot weather because of their physiology, behaviours and activity levels. 

"Children potentially at greater risk include those aged under 4 years, with health conditions or taking certain medications.

"Where a child has complex health conditions or clinical vulnerability, advice should be sought from their clinical team and shared with relevant staff."

During heatwaves, it's about ensuring children stay cool, even if playing outdoors.

You can ventilate spaces using fans and draw curtains to keep the sun out. Keeping children hydrated is vital as well.

To cool children down, the government's education blog advises: "Move the child to a cool area and encourage them to drink cool water.

"Cool the child as rapidly as possible, for example, by sponging or spraying the child with cool water and placing cold packs around the neck and armpits, or wrapping the child in a cool, wet sheet and assist cooling with a fan."

If their health deteriorates, call 111 or 999 if it's an emergency.

-SKY NEWS