As it happened: June heatwave in England and Wales

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Nipping over to Royal Ascot for a moment now where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have put in an appearance at the races.

William and Kate - who have not attended the Berkshire meet for a number of years - arrived in the traditional royal carriage procession to cheers from the crowds.

The Queen has not made an appearance today with other members of the Royal Family.

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Thanks to the soaring temperatures, the event's organisers earlier announced that the strict dress code would not be enforced in all enclosures.

Punters have been reminded to stay cool and a message broadcast on the public address system said: "Please drink plenty of water all afternoon and keep hydrated."

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Outdoor public events have been banned in an area of France as a record-breaking heatwave sweeps across Europe.

Concerts and large public gatherings have been called off in the Gironde department around Bordeaux.

Yesterday, parts of France hit 40C earlier in the year than usual, with temperatures expected to peak tomorrow.

Scientists say periods of intense heat are becoming more frequent and longer lasting as a result of global warming.

In Gironde, officials said public events, including some of the official 18 June Resistance celebrations, will be prohibited from Friday at 14:00 (12:00 GMT) "until the end of the heat wave". Indoor events at venues without air conditioning are also banned.

The weather has been kind for festival-goers on the Isle of Wight, with no wellies needed.

Organisers have warned people at the Isle of Wight Festival to stay safe during the heat and recommended they take precautions - including avoiding excess alcohol consumption.

As a result of the soaring temperatures suncream is the order of the day - and the only shelter being sought is to get out of the sun.

Hot days are often followed by very warm nights. If the overnight temperature doesn’t drop below 20C then that’s defined as a tropical night and there’s a chance of that somewhere in south-east England tonight.What is a tropical night?

It’s hotting up here at this lido as the sunbathers soak up the sunshine in south-east London.

Since sunrise swimmers have been flocking to Charlton: all 1,000 slots sold out as people look for some respite from the high temperatures brought about by the arrival of the Spanish plume.

Picnickers have set up camp beside this Olympic-sized swimming pool as the trees surrounding the pool gently sway in the breeze.

A number of fair-weather swimmers have visited throughout the day, much to the chagrin of some regulars who are not used to sharing with crowds, especially during those long, cold winter months.

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The Donkey SanctuaryCopyright: The Donkey Sanctuary

If you're heading out to make the most of the summer sunshine today, spare a thought for some of our hairy-coated friends.

As the temperature rises, it's not just us humans that need to keep cool.

At the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, the animals are being looked after with specially made ice lollies - the perfect way to cool down in the heat.

The sanctuary's Simon Horn says: "The ice blocks are made from fruit and vegetables in water.

"They not only provide a welcome treat during the sizzling temperatures, but they also provide a valuable form of enrichment.

"Donkeys love exploring, and this activity allows them to exhibit their natural foraging behaviours - a key factor in improving donkey welfare."

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It is officially the hottest day of the year in the UK for the third day in a row.

Heathrow in west London recorded 32.4C (90F) this afternoon and temperatures could climb further to 34C in parts of the South East.

Today's record temperature surpassed the previous day's high of 29.5C (85.1F) recorded at Northolt in west London.

The Met Office also predicts it could be the "hottest Royal Ascot on record" at the Berkshire racecourse.

In Santon Downham, Suffolk, temperatures reached 31.1C, and Wisley, Surrey, recorded 30.4C.

But the picture changes further north, with the Met Office pointing out a marked difference in temperatures, with Glasgow recording 13.7C just after midday.

While parts of South East England will have another very warm to hot day on Saturday, elsewhere in England and Wales things will feel very different as temperatures drop significantly.

For example, Leeds will fall from a high near 27C today to just 16C tomorrow.

This photo of a tranquil spot in Leeds was taken a short while ago by BBC Weather Watcher Martin King.

Martin KingCopyright: Martin King

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If you’re in the southern half of the UK you’ll certainly be feeling the heat - but spare a thought for Spain and France, they are experiencing a punishing heatwave.

This week France saw temperatures hit 40C - the earliest in the year than ever before.

Spain is enduring its second heatwave this year and there are warnings it could reach 43C in the next couple of days. That did not used to happen until July or August.

It is this type of intense heat that scientists warn will become more common as global warming heats the planet.

The world has already warmed by 1.1C since the 19th century and temperatures continue to rise.

The last seven years have been the hottest years ever recorded and, if no action is taken to curb climate change, scientists warn a rise of 4C is possible.

In the US now, more than 100 million people are being warned to stay indoors as scorching temperatures settle over large parts of the country.

India and Pakistan suffered even more brutal heat last month with temperatures in Pakistan reaching 50C while the Indian capital, New Delhi, hit 49.2C – an all-time high.

While periods of hot weather have always occurred naturally, the increased intensity and frequency of extreme heat now is a warning bell for the impacts of climate change.

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To place the current hot weather in context, we've drawn up a map of some peak temperatures hit around the UK - both in the month of June and overall.

Some historical high points for thermometers include the hottest temperature recorded in June, when Southampton peaked at 35.6C in 1976.

In more recent times, Cambridge experienced a sweltering 38.7C in July 2019, the hottest day ever recorded in the UK.

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For anyone who's interested in how hot it is where you are compared to more than 50 cities around the world, including some of the hottest and coldest inhabited spots, click this link and enter your location or postcode in the search box.

In the words of Billy Idol, it's hot in the city. In the words of The Clash, London's burning. In the words of Glen Frey, the heat is on.

A high of 34C (93.2F) is expected in the capital on Friday. So are Londoners coping with the heatwave - or is it too hot to handle?

Before the inevitable rainclouds return to empty over our optimistic barbecues - we take a look at some "snaps-hots" from around the city.

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Bournemouth's beaches are ready for an expected influx of thousands of visitors over the weekend, the local council says.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council says it expects tens of thousands of visitors over the next few days to head to the seaside to enjoy the heat and sunshine.

Beachgoers flocked to the resort town on the south coast of England when the first Covid-19 lockdown was eased in June 2020, which led to the council declaring a major incident.

Since the incident, the council has developed a free beach check app showing people which areas are crowded, gives the location of public toilets and lifeguards, and says which areas dogs can use.

Security cameras, a hub for emergency services and more rangers have also since been brought in.

Read more here.

If the hot weather is becoming oppressive, there are some basic principles to help stop it becoming too much.

During the day, draw the curtains or blinds to keep the sun out and close the windows on the sunny side of your home, to keep hot air out.

Open all the windows before you go to bed to get a through breeze.

Using even a small fan can be sensible in hot weather as it encourages the evaporation of sweat and makes it easier for your body to regulate your internal temperature.

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If you don't have a fan, try filling your hot water bottle with ice cold liquid instead.

Alternatively, cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body, so try chilling your socks in the fridge before wearing.

And of course, keep hydrated.

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A Level 3 heat-health alert has been issued for London, the east of England and the south-east to help protect health services, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says.

The alert, called 'heatwave action', is to help protect the NHS and to inform its partners that they should prepare their services for possible increases in demand due to increases in temperatures, Agostinho Sousa of the UKHSA tells BBC Breakfast.

“We also have a Level 2 that is currently active in the South West and East of England that is to inform our partners that they should prepare their services in case they need to enter into action in case we see an increase in temperatures.

“Right now the situation is stable, and we expect the temperatures to drop tomorrow.”

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People have been warned not to swim in open water as temperatures soar.

Swimming in lakes, rivers and canals could cause muscle cramps and shock as the water often remained cold even in heatwaves, says Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Fresh water could be polluted and cause serious illness, it said.

People who fall into water by accident should lean back, extend their legs and arms, and use slow, gentle movements to stay afloat.

Once you have controlled your breathing, attempt to swim to safety and call for help, the service adds. Anyone seeing a person or animal in trouble around water was asked to phone 999.

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If you're just joining us or need a catch-up, here's the latest on the extreme weather hitting parts of the UK and Europe:

• Today’s maximum temperature is expected to reach 34C in southern England which is hotter than Jamaica and the Maldives - exceeding last summer’s highest reading of 32.2C in July
• An official heatwave could be declared in the UK, which is when least three consecutive days have daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold
• Heathrow Airport has seen the hottest temperature in the UK so far this year, after it reached 30.3C at midday today
• The picture is much cooler in other parts of the UK, with expected highs of 17C in Scotland and 19C in Northern Ireland
• A Level 3 heat-health alert has been issued for London, the east of England and the South East to help protect the NHS
• People are advised to check on those who may struggle to keep cool in the heat, such as older people and those with underlying health conditions, and look out for signs of heat exhaustion
• While periods of intense heat do occur within natural weather patterns, scientists say they're becoming more frequent, more intense and are lasting longer as a result of global warming
• Fire services are warning people to be alert to the dangers of grass fires, which can start because of dropped cigarettes and smouldering hot coals from disposable barbecues

Our bodies strive to keep a core temperature of about 37.5C whether we're in a snowstorm or a heatwave.

But as the weather gets hotter, the body has to work harder to keep its core temperature down

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Old age or some long-term conditions, such as heart disease, can leave people less able to cope with the strain heat puts on the body.

Diabetes can make the body lose water more quickly and some complications of the disease can alter blood vessels and the ability to sweat.

Children and those who are less mobile may also be more vulnerable. Brain diseases, such as dementia, can also leave people unaware of the heat or unable to do anything about it.

You can read more by James on the dangers of heat and what to do about them here.

At midday, the temperature at Heathrow Airport was 30.3C, which is the highest for England and the UK so far this year.

Wales has also recorded its highest temperature so far - 26.7C at Cardiff Bute Park.

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This heatwave has been building across western Europe - last week Spain saw temperatures above 40C - and now that heat has started to move northwards.

Spain is used to heatwaves – just not this early in the summer season and certainly not this hot.

And with the high temperatures come the inevitable wildfires.

In Italy, the soaring heat is leading to growing concerns about water shortages.

As we reported earlier, large stretches of the country’s largest river, the Po, the water is so low that locals can walk through the middle of the expanse of sand - and wartime shipwrecks are even resurfacing.

Across the Pyrenees, straddling the border of France and Spain, outdoor public events are being banned from tomorrow until the end of the heatwave.

Teachers in the region are watering playgrounds in order to prevent pupils getting heatstroke in the extreme heat.

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Portugal saw its hottest May since 1931, and yesterday France recorded a temperature of over 40C - the earliest hot spell ever to hit the country.

And French officials say the peak of the heatwave is yet to be reached.

The hot zone is expected to move into central Europe, Italy the Alpine countries and the south of Germany.

The peak of the heatwave in the UK arrives today across England and Wales, with temperatures set to reach 33C.

But in Scotland and Northern Ireland, temperatures are expected to peak at a more comfortable 23C

Across the whole of the UK, cooler and fresher conditions are expected over the weekend

Scientists warn that as global temperatures rise over time heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent, more intense and longer lasting - and their impact more widespread.