Temperatures soared above 30C (86F) in parts of the UK on Tuesday as the country enjoys a sunny start to September.

The highest temperature of 30.7C was recorded at Gogerddan, in Dyfed, Wales, while the mercury reached 30.4C was in Northolt, west London, this afternoon.

According to the Met Office, it is the seventh September where temperatures have reached in excess of 30C in the past 50 years.

It is the only time it has happened over two consecutive years – temperatures reached 31.1C in September 2020.

Elsewhere, temperatures reached 30.3C at Pershore in Worcestershire and 30.2C at Heathrow and at Santon Downham in Suffolk.

Hot weather has also been seen in Ireland, where there were reports that the highest September temperature has been seen since 1906, though this has not yet been verified.

The warmest UK September day on record was on 2 September 1906 when 35.6C was recorded at Bawtry, South Yorkshire.

On Monday, temperatures reached 28.9C (84F) in Wiltshire followed by 28.8C (83.8F) in Suffolk and 28.7C (83.6F) in Hampshire.

Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office meteorologist, said low pressure moving in from the south west on Wednesday will make it “less hot” in parts of Wales and Northern Ireland, but “hot air” will remain in central and eastern England and Scotland, bringing highs of 26C to 29C (78.8F to 84.2F).

He said central and eastern parts of England were “most likely” to record an official heatwave across Monday to Wednesday, but will only “just about make it”.

The temperature is expected to fall later this week and the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Thursday with heavy showers and thunderstorms forecast.

A location meets the UK heatwave criteria when it records a period of at least three consecutive days of daily maximum temperature levels meeting or exceeding the thresholds, which differ across the country.

Afternoon plans?

Fine and dry with plenty of sunshine for most ☀️

Very warm or locally hot conditions across England & Wales 🌡️

Cloudier with some patchy rain far north & west of Scotland ☁️

Check out the forecast 👇 pic.twitter.com/Kp4jp9PWYy

These include 25C (77F) in Wales, Scotland and southwest England, 27C (80.6C) for southern and eastern England and 28C (82.4C) in London.

“We often get a warmer spell particularly early on in September,” Mr Dewhurst said.

“August was particularly cool and cloudy, so this spell is the warmest spell of weather since July for the UK.”

September has already beaten August’s highest temperature of 27.7C in the UK, which last happened in 2016.

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