Summer at last as temperatures hit 30 - but thunderstorms on the way

Record highs of 27.6C (81.7F) were recorded in several parts of England on Sunday, nudging ahead of the previous best of 27.4C set on June 6.

And the fine summer weather - coinciding with the beginning of the school holidays - shows no signs of stopping - although thunderstorms will pass through Yorkshire on Wednesday.

Steven Keates, senior forecaster with the Met Office, said: “For the week ahead, the first couple of days are getting warmer.

“Monday will get off to a misty and hazy start in a few places but will be up to 27C (80.6F) in some of the cooler places such as west Scotland.

“London and the Midlands might be knocking on the door of 30C (86F) and then even further - 33C and 34C (93.2F) by Tuesday.

“Things will cool down a bit overnight into Wednesday, but even then it will still be the mid-20s.”

Mr Keates said there will be a handful of isolated thunder storms before the week was out, but that temperatures would largely remain above average for the time of year.

Today’s forecast for Yorkshire:

Becoming very warm today, and as temperatures rise this afternoon so there is a chance of isolated thunderstorms developing. However, most places will remain dry with bright or sunny spells.

Tonight

Any initial isolated thunderstorms will die away. Despite the following clear periods and light winds temperatures will only slowly fall, it will feel warm and humid, especially in conurbations.

Tuesday

Mainly dry, hot and humid with long spells of strong sunshine. The highest temperatures will be across the south of the region, as cooler, breezy conditions develop along the coast.