Today is hottest day of the year so far as mercury hits 31.7°C... and forecasters say it's going to be even hotter tomorrow
- Hottest temperature recorded in Cavendish, Suffolk, beating previous high for the year at the Olympic Park when the mercury touched 31.4C
- Forecast to be the hottest weekend of the year so far... and on course to be the hottest August since 2008
- Sunday expected to be a similar picture with widespread sunshine
By TAMARA COHEN
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It was the hottest day of the year so far today as temperatures soared across the nation.
Most of the UK enjoyed temperatures in the high 20s, but at Cavendish, in Suffolk, the mercury reached 31.7C (89.06F), eclipsing the previous high of 31.4C (88.5F) recorded at London's Olympic Park on July 25.
Much of East Anglia and the South East of England saw the hottest temperatures with Charsfield in Suffolk basking in 31.4C and Santon, Downham, recording temperatures of 31.3C (88.5F).
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Fun in the sun: Roan and Genevieve have fun in the sun on Great Yarmouth beach
Holly Billson (left) and Grace Stewart (right) trying to keep cool during the heatwave at the V Festival at Hylands Park, Chelmsford
One man comes up with a novel way of keeping cool as he walks around V Festival with a bag of ice on his head
Business is definitely booming for ice cream vendors at V Festival as music fans gather
Crowds of people gathered on the beach to enjoy the Birdman Festival in Worthing
Sean Frawley from Hong Kong should perhaps called his gliding machine something other than the Cross Channel Express
Beaches across the country were packed as sunseekers sought to make the most of the blistering heat.
But emergency services are urging members of the public to take sensible precautions while enjoying the weather after a man died after being rescued from the sea near Westcliff on Sea in Essex this morning.
Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: 'Prior to our arrival, a man who we believe to be in his 40s was pulled out of the sea and was being cared for by an off duty nurse.
'Paramedics continued to treat and stabilise the patient before he was taken to a waiting medical team at Southend Hospital.'
Essex Police said that the man had died in hospital and officers were trying to contact next of kin.
Taking a dive: Anupinder Randhawa flying hid condor class hand glider
Crowded: Sunseekers at the Birdman festival packed the beach at Worthing in Sussex
Mini reveller: This young music fan keeps cool in a pink knitted hat and matching outfit at the V Festival at Hylands Park in Chelmsford
Makes a change: For once it looks like the wellies won't be needed this year as party goers at the V Festival enjoyed the sunshine
Sun has got its hat on: Revellers at the V Festival seemed more interested in enjoying the sunshine than the music while others made sure they protected themselves from the rays with head umbrellas
It comes as more than 200 revellers had to be treated for minor injuries by medical teams after trips, bumps and falls at the V Festival.
Sunday will also be hot, with temperatures reaching 29C (84F) in the south east and close to that elsewhere.
Early indications suggest the dry, warm weather will last into the early part of next week before temperatures drop.
In the capital today, the mercury reached a balmy 28C, prompting legions of sunseekers to flock to the parks.
The heat could put August this year on course to be hotter than the same periods in the last three years.
Sunny speed: A woman rollerblades, as people enjoy the sun in Hyde Park, central London
Lazy day: Across the capital residents have been flocking to parks to relax in the summer sun
In 2011 the average temperature for the month was just 14C with a high of 30.3C - below what is expected this weekend.
In 2010 the August average was 14.2C while there was a high of only 26.7C.
Again, this years temperatures also look set to beat 2009, when the average for August was 15.4 and there was a high of 30.3C
If the warm weather continues, this year's August will be the warmest since 2008.
The best temperatures last year came when parts of the UK reached 33C - hotter than Caribbean hot-spot Barbados and Miami, Florida. The year went on to be the second warmest on record.
But the trend didn't continue this year, with months of wet weather and flood warnings turning spring and early summer into a dreary washout.
This artistic shot shows flies swarming around the heads of deer in Richmond Park, South West London, at sunrise this morning
Let's get a sun tan: Two music fans dress for the sun in hot pants and small tops at the V Festival in Essex, but not forgetting the wellies just in case there's a downpour
This week has seen rain and wind batter the west of England and Wales, because of an unseasonal patch of low pressure.
Yesterday a severe weather warning was in force as an inch of rain fell on northern and western areas, with some surface water flooding on the roads in low lying areas of Devon, Cornwall and Wales.
Eastern areas have had a better week with sunshine and some showers, and temperatures have reached the mid-20s (mid-70s).
Today will see more thundery showers and rain for western areas in the morning, and a risk of showers in the east too, but they should peter out by late afternoon for most.
Here come the girls: A group of friends carrying rucksacks stride through the fields in Essex today as they get ready for a weekend of summer fun at the V festival
Taking it slow: People make the most of the warm weather today with a punt down the river in Canterbury
Tilly Leach, seven, from Essex, has fun in the sun on Bournemouth beach today
Not the best weather for it: More than 1,000 sandcastles are built on Scarborough beach today in a world-record attempt
It will be extremely humid, with temperatures reaching 28C (82F), and the mercury will keep rising tomorrow as hot air seeps in from continental Europe.
Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said: ‘The south east will see very hot and humid weather and the rest of the country will also be warm over the weekend.’
Gemma Plumb, of Meteogroup, said: ‘There is a small chance of showers on Sunday in western areas, but the low pressure is on the way out and for most places it will be dry and very warm.’
Research revealed yesterday that hay fever sufferers have endured the longest spell of high pollen counts in two decades, thanks to the wet spring and topsy turvy summer.
Come rain or shine: The Met Office has warned of heavy storms tomorrow in some parts of the country, but the sun and high temperatures will return fairly swiftly by Saturday
Catching the waves: Surfers and holidaymakers make the most of the waves at Langland Bay near Swansea during a break in the wet weather
BEACH CROWD STOP IN THEIR TRACKS AS GREAT WHITE APPEARS IN SKY
Shark in the sky: Shocked Matt Barnes felt a sense of unease when he spotted a cloud in the shape of a Great White, complete with distinctive eye, fin, and menacing open jaw, at the beach promenade in Hove, Sussex
This was the jaws-dropping moment a cloud in the shape of a great white shark loomed menacingly over a holiday beach.
Walkers along the promenade at Brighton, East Sussex, stopped in their tracks to gaze at the sky and stare at the mass of white cloud that looked uncannily like the killer shark.
Quick-thinking Matt Barnes was able to take a photograph of the incredible sight on his iPhone.
In his picture, the shark’s distinctive nose and open jaws are apparent, along with a darker, circular patch representing an eye.
Although the body is perhaps a little fluffy for a shark, it does also bear a dorsal fin.
Matt, 30, said he was stunned by the unusual cloud.
He said: 'I was walking back from the beach with my girlfriend Jackie and our baby son Albie when I spotted the cloud.
'I said: "that’s a funny looking cloud, it looks like a shark". I took a picture of it on my phone and when I looked back at it, I couldn’t believe just how much it looked like Jaws. The head is a dead-ringer.
'The cloud definitely has the head of a great white shark and it looks like it is looming out of the sky and about to attack the beach.'
Video: Londoners enjoy the sunny weather
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2189276/UK-weather-Temperatures-hit-31-C-forecasters-say-course-hottest-August-years.html#ixzz23wQi80Op