Sunseekers are making the most of 82F (28C) temperatures across Britain today on what is officially the hottest April day since 1949.
The mercury soared to 84.4F (29.1C) in St James’s Park in central London this afternoon as the country enjoyed sizzling heat that made the UK warmer than the Sahara on the hottest day of the year so far.
The south east of England is basking in the hottest of the weather, while most parts of England and Wales will be greeted by temperatures at least in the low 20s, the Met Office confirmed.
Sunbathers flock to the Hot Walls in Portsmouth this morning to make the most of the sunshine
Daisy Goodman (21), right and Alley Dixon (27), left enjoy the warm weather as they relax on deckchairs at Newcastle’s Quayside Seaside on the banks of the River Tyne
Sunbathers made the most of the hot weather as they laid in London’s Greenwich Park on the warmest day of the year so far
There is a possibility than Northern Ireland will hit temperatures of 66F (19C) while Scotland could hit 68F (20C). The temperatures far exceed that average for this time of the year, which is 53F (11.4C).
It comes as experts warned vulnerable people to stay indoors because of high pollution levels from a toxic plume which is coming across from France and Spain.
And runners planning to don fancy dress for the London Marathon on Sunday are being urged to reconsider amid warnings it could be the hottest race on record.
Britain will be hotter than the 72F (22C) Laghouat oasis, Algeria, in the Sahara Desert and the holiday island Bermuda, off the east coast of the USA.
But temperatures will need to reach 85F (29.4C) to beat the hottest April day ever in the UK, which was recorded in Camden Square in London on 16 April 1949.
A young woman is pictured making the most of the sun on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset as temperatures soared to their hottest level in April since 1949
Commuters in the capital were pictured enjoying the sunshine on Millennium Bridge this morning, although others had to cram themselves inside stuffy carriages on the Tube.
Temperatures were so hot that Network Rail had to impose speed restrictions as a result of ‘direct sunshine’ which threatens to buckle rails.
Hot but cloudy conditions cause few problems as the sunshine reaching the ground is weaker.
Network Rail said: ‘Rails in direct sunshine can be 20C hotter than air temperature. Rails expand as they get hotter and can start to buckle.
‘Speed restrictions are imposed as slower trains exert lower forces on the track, reducing the chance of buckling’
GWR said: ‘Speed restrictions into Paddington are because of the heat.’
Across the country many people have been out on beaches and parks, sunbathing and making the most of the warm weather.
It comes as advice from the Defra warned: ‘Thursday and Friday have the chance of localised high pollution levels near east coasts of England, with isolated pockets also possible in busy urban areas in southern and eastern England.
Spring scenes: Two men are pictured basking in the heat in St James Park in the capital as temperatures rise to 82F (28C)
Blast from the past: Londoners are pictured enjoying the sunshine in Kensington Gardens on the hottest April day ever in 1949
This satellite photo reveals a cloudless Britain today after the hottest April day for almost 70 years with highs of 84F
Runners planning to don fancy dress for the London Marathon on Sunday are being urged to reconsider amid warnings it could be the hottest race on record. People are pictured relaxing in the sunshine near City Hall in London
Three sun seekers are pictured basking in the heat in St James’s Park, London this afternoon where temperatures hit 29.1C
Three year old Jayden Lynch eats an ice cream (left) on the hottest day of April so far in Stratford-upon-Avon, while Toby Cox, three, (pictured right) builds a sandcastle on Blackpool Beach
Making a splash! Three friends are pictured splashing around in the fountain at Trafalgar Square, central London today
Splashing around! Sun seekers get some respite from scorching temperatures in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester
A couple are pictured taking shelter from the heat under a blossom tree in St James’s Park, central London this afternoon
A couple make a start on their BBQ at the Hot Walls in Portsmouth this morning as the temperatures soared across Britain
‘Areas of moderate air pollution are expected across southern parts of the UK, with more isolated moderate levels in the North, mainly close to coasts.’
Runners planning to don fancy dress for the London Marathon on Sunday are being urged to reconsider amid warnings it could be the hottest race on record.
Event director Hugh Brasher said: ‘The weather forecast for Sunday is currently predicting the hottest London Marathon on record at around 23 degrees Celsius.
‘The previous highest temperature on Raceday was 22.2 degrees Celsius in 1996 and 2007. We will continue to monitor the forecast closely as we all know that weather forecasts can change.
‘Our contingency plans for the forecast hot weather on Sunday include increasing the supply of water to all drinks stations to enable runners to douse themselves with water, increasing the number of showers on the route and increasing the supply of ice to first aid stations on the route.
‘Most importantly, runners should adjust their goal for Sunday and plan to run at a slower pace. If they were planning to run in fancy dress, they should think carefully if that is appropriate in the forecast conditions.’
Meteorologist Alex Burkill said: ‘There’s a fairly good chance of 28C, there’s about a 60% chance.
‘Quite widely we are going to see low 20s, and for many it will be a little warmer than Wednesday.’
St James’s Park in London and Gravesend in Kent both recorded the highest temperatures of the year yesterday. hitting as high as 24.8C.
A sunbather is pictured making the most of the good weather in Green Park, London on the hottest April day since 1949
The deck chairs came out in Green Park, London, as temperatures soared to a sweltering 82F in the Spring sunshine
Cooling off: A man is pictured in swimming shorts trying to cool down in the Trafalgar Square fountain in central London
People punt along the River Cam in Cambridge on what is officially the hottest day of the year so far after London’s Heathrow Airport reached 78.3F at noon today
Jade Newsome (left) and Kate Whitfied (right), both 31, from London, enjoy the hot weather on Richmond riverside today
A young man is pictured sheltering from the London heat with his guitar under a tree on Primrose Hill, north London
Row, row row your boat! The weather was warm enough for a row along the Thames for these two women in Richmond
Hercules the Blackpool horse cools down in the sea with rider Tyrone, on what is the hottest day of the year so far
A man is pictured ready for the hot weather on Richmond riverside in south west London with his sunglasses on and shoes off
Feeling hot hot hot! Workers are pictured in the sun on their lunch break in Finsbury Square, central London this afternoon
People enjoy the warm weather as they strip off to sunbathe on the golden sands of Bournemouth beach in Dorset
The South East of England will enjoy the hottest of the weather, while most parts of England and Wales will bask in temperatures at least in the low 20s, the Met Office confirmed. Pictured are joggers in London this morning
A couple are pictured splashing in the water of the fountain at Trafalgar Square in central London to cool down from the heat
Tanning time! A young woman is pictured sunning herself on a deck chair in Hyde Park, central London this afternoon
People enjoy a picnic in London as the capital basks in an 82F heatwave on what could be the warmest April day for 70 years
A girl on the bank of the river Cam in Cambridge enjoys the sunny weather on what is the hottest day of the year so far
Ruby Jennings, aged 26, enjoys a chauffeured punt trip on the River Cam in Cambridge as the heatwave continues
A group of girls take a selfie on a hire boat during the hottest day of April so far in Stratford-upon-Avon
Tourists and Londoners enjoy second day of hot weather in St. James’s Park as the temperatures in the capital soar
A group of men are pictured posing by the riverside in Richmond, south west London this afternoon as the sun scorches
A woman is pictured sheltering from the sun against a tree in St James’s Park in central London as the temperatures soared
Sunglasses out! One sunbather is pictured reading a book among the daises in St James’s Park, central London today
Britain could be set for sizzling temperatures as high as 82F (28C) today – making it the hottest April day in nearly 70 years and as hot as Dubai. Commuters crossing Millennium Bridge in London today
Chilling out: A man is pictured soaking up the sun in Richmond, south west London as the mercury soared this afternoon
A swimmer goes for an early morning dip in the Serpentine, in Hyde Park, London
Commuters crossing Millennium Bridge in London today where temperatures are meant to be the hottest yet this year
A ballerina practises on Millennium Bridge in London this morning where temperatures are meant to be as hot as Dubai
Hercules the Blackpool horse enjoys a dip in the sea with rider Tyrone, on what is the hottest day of the year so far
Britain could be set for sizzling temperatures as high as 82F (28C) today – making it the hottest April day in nearly 70 years and as hot as Dubai
The average temperature in the south east of England was a toasty 24C – the same as Madrid. In comparison, Rome and Athens reached just 72F (22C).
It was not just London which enjoyed hotter than average temperatures for this time of year, with Plymouth recording 21.2C and Cardiff at 21.8C.
Today is expected to be the hottest day of the warm spell, with weekend temperatures dipping slightly before showery outbreaks on Sunday.
Competitors in the London Marathon can expect hot and humid conditions with a forecast of between 21C (70F) and 23C (73F), Mr Burkill said.
‘There could be a shower but it’s not very likely. It’s not great conditions for running. In fact if any showers do come they might be very welcome,’ he said.
A man was spotted enjoying the warm weather on the golden sands of Bournemouth beach in Dorset
Today is expected to be the hottest day of the warm spell, with weekend temperatures dipping slightly before showery outbreaks on Sunday. Pictured is Bournemouth beach today
Day breaks in London as morning commuters cross London Bridge, with temperatures expected to reach 28 degrees
Today is expected to be the hottest day of the warm spell, with weekend temperatures dipping slightly before showery outbreaks on Sunday. Pictured is London Bridge today
If temperatures do manage to push to 28C, it would beat April’s high of 27.8C – but it would still have some way to go to beat the hottest April day on record, a hot 85F (29.4), which was recorded in London in 1949. Pictured is London Bridge today
Rowers out for an early morning session on the river Cam in Cambridge. The tempreatures today are lightly to be the hottest of the year so far
The sun rises behind Lytham Windmill in Lytham St Annes creating a fiery sky on a warm morning on the coastal Lancashire town
Richmond Green in south west London is pictured with blue skies with sunbathers aplenty this afternoon
A city worker is pictured with his shoes and tie off as he enjoys the hot temperatures in Green Park, central London today
Some hayfever sufferers could be affected by high pollen counts, he added.
Mr Burkill said: ‘For anyone who suffers from tree pollen they will probably be feeling the effects, but that’s only about 20% of hayfever sufferers. Grass pollen season comes later in summer.’
People across the country were pictured out in the sun enjoying themselves and sunbathing in the heat this morning. The hashtag #Heatwave was trending on Twitter in Britain yesterday as people revelled in the scorching temperatures.
Mike Pattisson wrote: ‘The big coat has been put away and flip-flops have made an appearance (without the socks) Bring on the #heatwave’
Georgieporgie said: ‘Off to Portugal tomorrow and it’s going to be warmer here – livid! #heatwave’
By noon yesterday the hottest place in the UK was Gravesend in Kent which had reached 72.14F (22.3C) in the morning.
The Met Office warned about sunburn as the UV levels are similar to that of the August Bank Holiday last year, which saw temperatures reach a sweltering 82.76F (28.2C). There is also a warning for hay fever sufferers.
Sub-tropical Atlantic air is arriving – but it is mixed with dirty air from Spain and France.
Air pollution levels are set to hit high tomorrow and Friday in parts of the South and East, and moderate in parts of the North, The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said.
People with asthma or lung and heart problems, as well as the elderly, are advised to reduce exercise levels in high pollution areas to reduce health risks, DEFRA guidance said.
Pollution from factories, power stations and vehicle fumes worsens pollution from the continent.
DEFRA said: ‘Thursday and Friday have the chance of localised high pollution levels near east coasts of England, with isolated pockets also possible in busy urban areas in southern and eastern England.
‘Areas of moderate air pollution are expected across southern parts of the UK, with more isolated moderate levels in the North, mainly close to coasts.
‘This is due to continental air flow.’
A 1,500-mile wide front of hot air branded as the ‘blowtorch’ will reportedly see the hottest April day in a decade before heating up later on in the week
DEFRA guidance for high air pollution said: ‘Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors.
‘People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often.
‘Older people should also reduce physical exertion.
‘Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors.’
Around 29,000 Britons are killed annually by air pollution – 15 times more than the 2,000 who die in road accidents – Department of Health-backed research shows.
With temperatures expected to hit a scorching 80F, the bookies have slashed the odds into just 1/4 that Thursday notches up the highest temperature of 2018.
And the scissors have also been taken to the price that a whopping 86F (30C) is reached (6/4) anywhere in UK. It’s also now a 6/5 shot that despite its sodden start, this April takes home the accolade as being the warmest ever.
Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: ‘The gorgeous weather has got us feeling flush and we’ve been forced to slash the odds of the sunshine sticking around.
‘Bosses ought to expect workers to be pulling sickies left, right and center this week as the mercury rises.’
Supermarket chiefs are stockpiling beer, cider and sun cream as the min-heatwave sweeps in.
Sainsbury’s predict a 300 per cent rise in demand for sun cream and a 100 per cent increase in sales of fake tan over the next couple of days – so punters can look ready-bronzed in the sunshine.
They also estimate 70 per cent more sales of beer and cider, a 30 per cent uplift in Rosé wine and a 150 per cent increase in demand for ice cream.
And as the BBQ gets dusted down for the first time this year, the supermarket believes sales of vegan and vegetarian food will soar by 130 per cent.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘It seems the whole country has been eagerly awaiting the warmer weather, and we’re expecting our customers to celebrate the return of sunshine by bronzing with fake tan, cooling down with ice cream and firing up the barbecue.’
The high temperatures will not just be confined to one part of the country, with 68F-70F (20C-21C) expected in Newcastle, 64F-66F (18C-19C) in Northern Ireland and 63F (17C) in Glasgow.
Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: ‘It’s going to be a pretty nice day – it will be a slow start in places with cloud first thing.
‘But by mid-afternoon there will be lots of unbroken sunshine.’
Thursday could see even higher temperatures – 77-80F (25C-27C) in the South East – as warm air continues to come up through Spain and on to the UK.
Saturday could see isolated showers in parts, while there is ‘uncertainty’ about what Sunday’s weather will bring.
Experts predict these warm conditions are likely to last for the rest of the month, with changeable conditions continuing in the northwest, while the southeast still has some decent dry and bright spells.
Toasty temperatures will even be higher than those in Malibu, Athens and Rome.
The start of the week should see warm weather in the south and the east, but the north and west have a high risk of rain and wind.
The southeast can expect the best conditions in the country with the northwest seeing the bleakest.
The African plume differs to the Spanish plume the UK experienced last summer which brought with it temperatures of 77F (25C).
A Spanish plume is caused by cool Atlantic air being pushed towards Spain, which in turn pushes warm Spanish air towards the UK, bringing with it hot humid weather.