Britain’s beaches are becoming ‘unmanageable’ due to hordes of visitors who don’t follow social-distancing rules, local authorities have warned.
The Coastguard had its busiest day in more than four years on Friday, when the UK recorded its third hottest day ever, as it dealt with more than 300 incidents.
Thanet District Council asked people to avoid four of the area’s beaches, including Margate’s Main Sands, due to the number of visitors.
Leader of the council Councillor Rick Everitt said: ‘Early on, it became clear that they were going to reach levels of which we were concerned about.’
Authorities expressed concern about keeping tourists safe in the water, as well as the potential spread of Covid-19 and maintaining social distancing.
‘The RNLI only have a certain capacity,’ Mr Everitt said.
‘They’re on seven Thanet beaches this summer, which is slightly fewer than usual, and they’re doing a great job where they are but they don’t have unlimited resources to deal with people in the water.
‘If you have too many people on the beach, it just becomes unmanageable from that point of view.’
Dozens of beachgoers flocked to Brighton beach this morning to bask in the warm tempatures
A group of people are spotted sitting by the sea in Brighton this morning as the temperatures across the country start to cool
Women sunbathe and enjoy the slightly cooler temperatures this morning on Brighton beach
Police in Brighton patrol the promenade on what should have been Pride weekend in the city
Daytrippers flocked to beaches across the country on Friday, sparking concerns about how sunseekers would keep to social-distancing measures.
Temperatures reached 100F (37.8C) at London’s Heathrow Airport at 2.41pm and also reached 99.1F (37.3C) at Kew Gardens, in west London, the Met Office said.
Many calls to the Coastguard on Friday were about people being cut off by the tide, missing children and swimmers getting into difficulty.
The Coastguard said the total number of UK incidents was 329, including 232 callouts for coastguard rescue teams, 129 for lifeboats, 22 requiring aircraft and three for a hovercraft.
The coast along Essex and Kent saw a total of 45 incidents, it added.
Mr Everitt said that Thanet’s beaches had seen ‘exceptional’ numbers of visitors driven by the balmy conditions.
‘We’re happy for people to come to Thanet, our economy is dependent on it, and obviously a lot of businesses in the coastal areas are struggling, because they missed so much of the season,’ he told PA.
‘So it is a bit of a balancing act for us, because we don’t want to be saying, ‘don’t come’, as we know small businesses around our seafront are desperate for the revenue.’
He said the facilities on the beaches, such as toilets, were not equipped for the number of tourists, while authorities would be able to cope better if demand was better distributed along the coastline.
‘It’s an irony isn’t it that seaside towns have spent years complaining that people no longer visit them because they go abroad,’ he added.
‘We’re getting greater numbers than we’ve ever seen since package holidays became a thing.’
And Brits were spotted asleep on beaches this morning after flocking to the seaside yesterday to bask in the sizzling highs of 100F.
Three people were spotted dozing while wrapped up in sheets and blankets underneath Bournemouth pier surrounded by litter, discarded face masks, strewn flip flops and a shisha pipe.
And further down the beach a family had set up camp and pitched a tent into the sand alongside camping chairs.
Some sunseekers seemed to have a little too much fun yesterday as a lonesome baby stroller was spotted near the beach adorned with two empty bottles of beer.
And cleanup crews were spotted at 5am today sorting out the mess left behind by yesterday’s carefree revellers.
Beachgoers hoping to wake up to a repeat of yesterday’s balmy weather may be in for disappointment as temperatures are set to cool to 77F (25C) today as showers spread across the country.
Temperatures soared to 37.8C at London Heathrow on Friday afternoon and even Leeds and Manchester reached 88F (31C) while Newcastle and Wales saw balmy weather of 79F (26C).
But according to the Met Office temperatures will cool down today and rain and clouds will be seen across the north.
Brits were spotted sleeping on beaches this morning after flocking to the seaside to bask in the sizzling highs of 100F and staying the night. Pictured: A family sets up camp and pitch a tent on Bournemouth beach this morning
Three people were spotted wrapped up in sheets and blankets underneath Bournemouth pier this morning surrounded by litter, discarded face masks, strewn flip flops and a shisha pipe.
Some sunseekers seemed to have a little too much fun yesterday as a lonesome baby stroller was spotted near the beach adorned with two empty bottles of beer
Joggers were spotted out on a run this morning in Stoke Park, Guildford, as they took advantage of the cooler temperatures
Cleanup crews were spotted in Bournemouth much less balmy weather this morning while they got rid of the mess left behind by yesterday’s sunseekers
Hordes of beachgoers left masses of litter behind in Bournemouth yesterday which had to be cleaned up this morning
Litter was left strewn across Bournemouth beach after it was packed with sunseekers yesterday on the UK’s hottest day of the year so far
Joggers made the most of the cool sunny morning as they made their way to Battersea Park while Wimbledon Common was dotted with groups of people doing exercise.
One family was even spotted on the beach in Bournemouth very early this morning hoping to get a headstart on the masses of people who flocked to the site yesterday.
Daytime showers are set to ease by this evening with late sunny spells across the south of England while Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England will see cloud and showery rain.
And the rain could be here to stay into tomorrow as northern and western areas are more likely to see downpours while the rest of the UK should stay dry with patches of sunshine.
Drizzly weather is set to carry on into the beginning of the week on Monday with a few sunny spells but will turn to heavy rain all over apart from the far south.
The Coastguard had its busiest day for more than four years on Friday as the UK recorded its third hottest day ever.
Many calls were about people being cut off by the tide, missing children and swimmers getting into difficulty.
The total number of UK incidents was 329, including 232 callouts for coastguard rescue teams, 129 for lifeboats, 22 requiring aircraft and three for a hovercraft.
Julie-Anne Wood, of the Coastguard, said: ‘Yesterday was a beautiful day weather-wise in much of the UK. It was less beautiful a day for those who got themselves into trouble and had to be rescued. Some people will remember July 31 for all the wrong reasons.
‘We completely understand that people want to enjoy the coast. We also know that even the most experienced swimmer, paddleboarder and walker can be caught out by currents and tides respectively. We’re heading into some more good weather and we would really ask you to check and double check the tide times – put a timer warning on a smartphone to remind you – be aware of things like rip currents, and make sure you have a means of contacting us if things do go wrong.’
A misty sunrise was spotted over Corfe Castle in Dorset as Britain’s temperatures are set to cool today from the sizzling highs of 100F yesterday
The UK will see temperatures of 77F (25C) today which could possibly turn to showers later on in the day. Pictured: Corfe Castle this morning in Dorset
A group of people made the most of the early-morning sunshine and took to Wimbledon Common to do exercises and lift weights
One family was spotted on Bournemouth beach very early this morning hoping to get a head-start on the masses of people who flocked to the site yesterday
A jogger in Battersea Park, London, makes the most of the morning sun today as she goes for a run
Temperatures soared to 37.8C at London Heathrow on Friday afternoon and even Leeds and Manchester reached 88F (31C) while Newcastle and Wales saw balmy weather of 79F (26C). Pictured is a runner is Battersea Park
A woman is spotted jogging through Battersea Park in London this morning as she gets in the cooler weather
Highlands End Holiday Park at Eype in Dorset is packed with tents, caravans and camper vans on a hot day yesterday
A tombstoner leaps off the Cobb harbour wall into the sea in front of a packed beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset yesterday
Families swam in the ornamental ponds in Battersea Park as a way of cooling down in the scorching weather on Friday, despite warning signs urging people not to enter the water
A daredevil tombstoner dives off the rock and into the sea at Durdle Door in Dorset on a day of scorching hot sunshine and clear blue skies
Holidaymakers and sunbathers generally kept their distance as they enjoyed the weather at Dorset’s Durdle Door yesterday
Swimmers and paddleboarders enjoyed the turquoise sea as they flocked to the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset yesterday
A long line of visitors, many armed with swimming equipment, make their way to the beach at Durdle Door in Dorset
The south west coast path from the car park was busy as holidaymakers and sunbathers flocked to the beach at Durdle Door
Visitors cram onto the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex on the hottest day of the year and the third hottest day ever yesterday
A sign by Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday tells people to ‘head home’ with the beach becoming overcrowded
Two women pose as they are photographed at Southend-on-Sea beach in Essex yesterday afternoon
Tourists flock to Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, yesterday as the UK enjoys a spell of very hot weather
Women enjoy the weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as the hot weather sweeps across Britain
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon
People enjoy the sunshine at Southend-on-Sea in Essex yesterday as temperatures soar around the country
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon
A group of women make the most of the sunshine in Brighton yesterday morning as they go out on a paddle board
People take a selfie in front of the entrance of the Brighton Palace Pier in the East Sussex resort yesterday afternoon
The park and ride bus in St Ives, Cornwall, was rammed with people yesterday morning, making social distancing difficult
People bathe in the sea near Brighton Pier in East Sussex yesterday morning during the very hot weather
Holidaymakers flock to the beach at West Bay in Dorset yesterday as further heatwaves are expected across the country
A busy Bournemouth beach is pictured yesterday as crowds gather at the tourist hotspot on the Dorset coast
A pelican surprised a shocked sun seeker and tried to steal his tablet during the heatwave in St James’s Park, London, yesterday
A group of young people were spotted ‘tombstoning’ from a pier in Dalgety Bay, Scotland, as the country enjoyed temperatures reaching almost 30C
The A3, leading from London towards Portsmouth, has also closed in both directions at Thursley after a lorry caught fire, the Roads Policing Unit for Surrey Police announced on Twitter.
Drivers have been urged to avoid the area between Hindhead and Guildford after the ‘large vehicle fire’, which has since spread to the grass verge. The Hindhead Tunnel has closed as a result and the division route is currently via the A31 and A287.
Surrey Police said on Twitter: ‘Due to the size of the fire this may take some time to extinguish and then an assessment on the condition of the road will need to be made before we can safely re-open it. Please AVOID the A3 between Hindhead and Guildford area.’
Foreign summer holidays are now looking increasingly risky after the Government’s last-minute announcement on Sunday that those travelling from Spain now need to self-isolate for 14 days following a spike in cases.
But disappointed holiday-goers no longer going abroad will be pleased that popular spots in Europe including Ibiza, Lisbon and Berlin will fall short of the UK high, reaching 91F (33C), 86F (30C) and 77F (25C) respectively.
Before yesterday, Britain’s warmest day of 2020 so far was June 25 with 92.1F (33.4C) recorded at Heathrow, while the hottest day ever recorded in the UK was July 25 last year when Cambridge got up to 101.7F (38.7C).
The UK’s second hottest day on record was August 10, 2003 in Faversham, Kent, which got up to 101.3F (38.5C), and that in turn broke a previous record observed on August 3, 1990 when Cheltenham reached 98.8F (37.1C).
Children jump into the pool at Charlton Lido in South East London yesterday as the temperature soars in the capital
People use a zipline over Bournemouth beach as the Met Office said yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far
A man sunbathes lying on a motorbike as people enjoy the sunny weather at Brighton beach in East Sussex yesterday
Women jump into the sea at Southend-on-Sea in Essex yesterday afternoon amid the scorching conditions
People enjoy the sunshine on Barry Island beach in South Wales yesterday as the country experiences very hot weather
People flock to Porthmeor beach in Cornwall yesterday morning on a warm and sunny for people across Britain
Swimmers at Charlton Lido in South East London yesterday morning swim lengths as the temperature rises in the capital
Masses of people enjoy the scorching weather on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh on the hottest day of the year
A full car park at Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, yesterday as people head to the coast on day trips and staycations
Holidaymakers and sunbathers flock to the beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset on a sweltering day across the country
Nora Islam, four, is dressed for the hot weather on her visit to Somerset Lavender Farm in Faulkland
Cars queue on the M5 motorway southbound lanes near Bristol yesterday afternoon
Holidaymakers flocked to the beach at West Bay in Dorset yesterday amid high temperatures across the country
Tomorrow and on Sunday, temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of only 77F (25C) in London and East Anglia
Traffic was heavy on various major roads into seaside resorts this morning, including the M27 and A31 into Bournemouth
Yesterday, thousands descended on resorts from Cornwall to sunspots such as Lyme Regis in Dorset and Camber Sands in East Sussex as they soaked up the heat – mirroring scenes in May as lockdown restrictions were eased.
The sea at Woolacombe in Devon was busy with surfers as families crowded on to the popular beach. Holiday sites in the South West of England are getting booked up for the rest of the season amid the staycation boom.
A survey by MailOnline yesterday checked with 20 of the top campsites in Cornwall and 15 in Dorset if they had any space for two adults to stay a week from today. Not one had a spare lodge, pitch or campervan space.
In other places prices have soared, with one four-star hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, costing almost £350 a night. The current warm spell is due to a plume of warm air being drawn north from France and Spain.
Beachgoers have been urged to take precautions, including wearing sun cream and hats, as levels of ultraviolet radiation are predicted to be high.
But the heatwave is not due to last long as cooler conditions will move in through tomorrow and Sunday.
Andy Page from the Met Office said: ‘The bulk of England and Wales will have dry, very warm and sunny weather to end the week with Friday likely to be the hottest day of the year so far for the UK.
‘A few thunderstorms are possible later on Friday and then a cold front moves eastwards by Saturday.’
Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to reach only 77F (25C) in London and East Anglia. Further west and north, temperatures are unlikely to exceed 72F (22C).
The heatwave comes after what forecasters describe as an ‘autumnal’ start to the week, when an ‘unseasonably deep area of low pressure crossed the UK’.
It brought winds of up to 50mph, while 35.8mm (1.4 inches) of rain was recorded in Shap, Cumbria, on Monday.
The current warm spell, which began yesterday, involves a plume of warm air being drawn north from France and Spain by southerly winds.
The only respite from the heat could be in parts of Devon and Cornwall, where there is a chance of cloudier conditions.
Isolated thundery showers could be sparked by the high temperatures. A mixture of sunny spells, cloud and scattered showers is expected on Sunday.
Visitors flock to Brighton on the hottest day of 2020 so far as the Sussex coastal resort is packed with daytrippers
Visitors flock to Brighton on the hottest day of 2020 so far as people flock to the coast of East Sussex
‘Lido Ladies of London’ Nicola Foster and Jessica Walker enjoy the heatwave at Hillingdon Sports and Leisure complex yesterday
Rosie Lyle 21, Megan Stewart, 20, and Lois Shiel, 20, soak in the sun on the hottest day of the year in South Queensferry yesterday
People enjoy the hot weather during a punt ride along the River Cam in Cambridge yesterday afternoon
People sunbathe on Barry Island beach in South Wales yesterday as they make the most of the hot weather
For the first week and a half of August, the Met Office predicts the unsettled conditions ‘are likely to continue, with outbreaks of rain and scattered showers affecting all parts of the United Kingdom at times’.
Its forecast for the next ten days states: ‘The heaviest and most prolonged spells of rain are likely to be focussed towards the northwest, where it may also become quite windy at times with a risk of gales in exposed locations.
‘However, there should still be some drier and brighter spells in between the outbreaks of rain, with the driest of these conditions expected towards the South East.
‘Temperatures are likely to be slightly below average for this time of year, but perhaps near normal towards the South East.’
The short-lived heatwave comes at the end of an unseasonably chilly July. The UK average temperature for this July is currently on course to be just 57.4F (14.1C) – lower than the 1981-2010 long-term average of 59.3F (15.2C).
Britain has already surpassed 100 per cent of the average monthly rainfall and only experienced two thirds (66 per cent) of the expected sunshine for an average July, a total of 113.4 hours, Met Office figures show.
It said: ‘We’ve not seen a temperature anywhere above 30C so far or even with a three in it, that is quite unusual for July. In terms of shifting the overall weather stats for the month, it’s not going to do much to the average.’
The top temperature yesterday was 85.5F (29.7C) at Heathrow, which was the hottest day of July until yesterday.
People are looking to hit Britain’s beaches and beauty spots as rising coronavirus cases in popular European destinations has put many off holidaying aborad.