Thursday was the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures continued to soar across the UK.

A high of 28.3C was recorded at Northolt, west London – and temperatures could still rise.

The previous high of 28.2C was recorded on Wednesday at Kew Gardens in west London.

The record is expected to be broken again on Friday, when highs of 34C (93.2F) are forecast, prompting a Met Office to warn of a “rare” climate change event.

This would make parts of the UK hotter than the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Zakynthos, Los Angeles and parts of Barbados.

The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency issued a level two heat health alert for a large part of southern and central England, with a level one alert in place for northern England.

A heatwave can be declared when the temperature is above a certain threshold for three consecutive days.

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In London, the threshold is 28C and if the temperature tops that mark on Thursday, a heatwave could be declared.

Jason Kelly, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said; “The heat is a result of a mix of home-grown warming due to a high pressure over the southern half of the UK, as well as a southwesterly airflow bringing warm air, which has been over the continent through the week, across the country.”

The last time temperatures over 32C were recorded was on 20 July 2021.

Temperatures of 33C or higher in June are rare, especially early in the month.

The all-time temperature record for the UK is 38.7C (101.7F), set at Cambridge University on 25 July 2019.

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