Britain experienced its hottest day in the first half of April for 80 years on Wednesday as temperatures soared to 26.6C in Kew Gardens, south-west London.
The Met Office confirmed the record-breaking heat, marking the highest temperature recorded in the UK during the first half of April since 1946.
This comfortably surpassed the year’s previous warmest day, which saw 24.8C in Mona, Anglesey, on Tuesday.
The capital also registered higher temperatures than popular holiday spots including Ibiza, Rome and Marrakech, according to the forecaster.
Tom Morgan, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Temperatures even into the mid 20s are very uncommon at this time of year.
“In the London area, we’ve seen temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius, and currently the provisional maximum today is 26.6 Celsius in Kew Gardens, London. And that is pretty exceptional for at least the first half of April. It’s been very, very warm, but it is a brief peak in the heat, with temperatures for most of the UK considerably lower tomorrow.”
The hot spell, which began on Monday, is far above the early April average of 12C to 15C.
However, Thursday is expected to see rain and cooler, showery weather moving southeast across the UK.
As people flocked to the coast in the warm weather, a charity urged people to make sure they stay safe when cooling off.
Water safety charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK said that research had found the risk of accidental drowning increased fivefold during warm weather.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “Although air temperatures are warm, water temperatures remain very cold. The shock of cold water can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water.”
Two young boys have died in bodies of water in recent days.
In Cumbria, a body was recovered by police on Tuesday after a 17-year-old boy went missing at High Dam Tarn.
And on Monday, a seven-year-old boy died in hospital after emergency services responded to reports of a child in trouble in a small pond at a golf centre in March, Cambridgeshire.
A spokesperson for the drowning prevention charity said: “Stop and think before getting into water and always stay together. In an emergency, call 999 immediately. Stay out of the water yourself. Tell them to keep calm and throw something that floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, for them to hold onto and stay afloat while help is on the way.”
Despite the high temperatures, the Met Office has said that this week’s weather does not meet its definition of a heatwave, which requires temperatures to exceed region‑specific thresholds of 24C and 27C for at least three consecutive days.
The hot weather has also coincided with peak pollen season in the UK, with ash and birch pollen levels remaining “very high” according to the Met Office.
