Weather: UK sizzles as temperatures reach 36C

Image copyright PA Media

The UK is set for one of its hottest days on record, as temperatures reached more than 36C (96.8F) in south-east England.

Crowds have headed to the coast to enjoy the weather, but people have been urged to adhere to social distancing.

Warm weather will continue over the weekend for much of the UK, according to the Met Office.

The highest temperatures are expected in England and Wales, with fresher weather forecast for Scotland and NI.

A band of rain will move across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday afternoon, the Met Office tweeted.

As of 15:00 BST on Friday, the mercury reached 36.3C at London's Heathrow Airport. Only four August days on record have been hotter: 10 August, 2003 (38.5C Faversham), 2 and 3 August 1990 (37.1C) and 9 August 1911, BBC Weather said.

Earlier, a high of 26.4C was recorded in Wales (Usk), 23.5C in Scotland (Charterhall, Scottish Borders), and 20.9C in Northern Ireland (Katesbridge).

The sweltering temperatures come just one week after the UK recorded a yearly high of 37.8C at Heathrow.

Tropical nights

Warm temperatures are also expected overnight, with a number of so-called tropical nights - when temperatures stay above 20C - forecast for the coming days.

Such nights used to be rare. Between 1961 and 1990 there were just eight nights that exceeded that mark.

But the mercury is predicted to stay between 19 and 22C in some areas until next Wednesday night, meaning people in the UK could be facing difficult sleeping conditions for several nights to come.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Crowds have already flocked to Brighton beach, in West Sussex, to enjoy the sunshine Image copyright PA Media Image caption Record temperatures are expected in London and the South East

The increasing number of tropical nights is linked to climate change, according to BBC Weather.

And meteorologists have previously said they expect to see more as the climate continues to warm.

Meanwhile, councils responsible for beaches are asking visitors to follow coronavirus social distancing guidelines, and stay clear of packed beaches.

In Dorset, beach-goers have been told to "head home" as resorts and car parks in some areas are already full.

And Thanet District Council in Kent - which warned last month that busy beaches were becoming unmanageable - has asked visitors to look for less crowded areas so they can socially distance.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Skegness beach in Lincolnshire was another popular spot for sunseekers on Friday Image copyright PA Media Image caption And plenty of pleasure boats were seen making their way along the River Ant on the Norfolk Broads

Meanwhile, the RNLI has called on beachgoers in the south west of England to follow water safety advice and adhere to social distancing.

Last week, the charity carried out 30 rescues in one day on just one beach in Cornwall.

The incidents mainly involved bathers and body boarders caught in rip currents, going out of their depth and being cut off by the incoming tide.

Kitty Norman, water safety delivery support at the RNLI, said beaches across the whole of the South West were "extremely busy" with locals holidaying at home this year as well as an influx of visitors.

She said: "The sheer volume of people making social distancing tricky is one thing to be conscious of before planning your trip to the beach.

"You might choose to visit the beach at a quieter time of day, or choose a beach with more space, where you can still bathe between the flagged area but spread out further when setting up camp for the day.

"If you arrive at the beach and it is simply too crowded, consider moving on and spending your day elsewhere."

She also asked people to respect a two-metre distance when approaching lifeguards.

UK's hottest temperatures on record

38.7C - Cambridge Royal Botanic Gardens, 25 July 2019

38.5C - Faversham, 10 August 2003

37.8C - Heathrow, 31 July 2020

37.1C - Cheltenham, 3 August 1990

36.7C - Heathrow, 1 July 2015

Last week, the Met Office warned that climate change driven by industrial society is having an increasing impact on the UK's weather.

Its annual UK report confirmed that 2019 was the 12th warmest year in a series from 1884, and described the year as remarkable for high temperature records in the UK.