The UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far, with Heathrow Airport in west London hitting 28.6C (83.48F).

The previous high was 28.3C (83F) in Northolt in west London on 2 June.

The Met Office has warned people to be prepared when heading out and about due to high UV and pollen levels across much of England and Wales.

It's officially the #hottestdayoftheyearsofar with 28.6 degrees Celsius recorded at #Heathrow airport. This beats the previous highest temperature of 28.3 degrees Celsius at Northolt on June 2nd ☀️🌡️ pic.twitter.com/qUjz7eUQ8l

It is forecast to stay hot for the next few days before thunderstorms move in across England and temperatures become cooler.

Thunderstorm warnings are in place for the eastern half of Wales and much of England from Wednesday until Friday, with the Met Office saying there is potential for travel disruption and flooding.

Meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “We’re likely to become increasingly changeable towards the weekend.

“There is still the potential for some more settled spells and some warm weather is possible later in the month, but it is generally turning more changeable from this weekend.”

The Met Office had predicted Sunday would be the warmest day of the year but temperatures fell just shy, hitting 28C at Heathrow and St James’s Park in London.

Related posts:

UK records another 110 coronavirus deaths and 5,294 new cases as over 24.8 million have had first vaccine dose England fans urged to ‘drown out boos’ when players take the knee at Euro 2020 – but Scotland opt for different gesture New rail pass and vouchers for tourist attractions part of tourism recovery plan Murder accused signed note in his own blood of pact with devil to ‘win lottery’, trial told Arise, vaccine heroes! Who’s on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list? Southgate: ‘I don’t want to outstay my welcome’ as England manager Daily lateral flow testing for double-jabbed contacts of COVID cases to start on Tuesday ‘UK’s largest ever’ bird flu outbreak reported in Northern Ireland At least one patient has died with Omicron variant of COVID, PM says ‘One of the biggest days’: £700m contracts for offshore Scottish wind farm projects awarded Man who randomly attacked five people in Manchester shopping centre with knife sentenced Man jailed for 1990 rape of teenager out walking her dog – and victim ‘didn’t know if she would live or die’