UK Heatwave: Temperatures Close To The Hottest Of The Year - But It Won't Last

Britain Basks In 'Mini Heatwave'
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UK heatwave
PA

Sunlovers were told to soak up Britain's heatwave today - because it's not set to last.

After several days of rain and falling temperatures, the nation baked in sizzling sunshine which sent the mercury rocketing.

But Friday is expected to be cooler, with some scattered showers.

At lunchtime, with a few hours to go before entering the hottest part of the day, Meteogroup, the Press Association's weather division, recorded a maximum temperature of 31C (87.8F) at London City Airport.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW:

Animals keeping cool in the UK heatwave
Summer weather (01 of28)
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Forrest the Humboldt penguin keeps cool under a cold shower which was put in his enclosure by keepers at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling, Scotland as the hot weather continues. (credit:PA)
Summer weather (02 of28)
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Forrest and Joss (right) the Humboldt penguins keeps cool under a cold shower which was put in their enclosure by keepers at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling, Scotland as the hot weather continues. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather (03 of28)
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Black and White Ruffed Lemurs eating an ice lolly with apples in at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer weather (04 of28)
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Baby Asian Elephants Bala Hi-Way takes a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo. (credit:PA)
Summer weather (05 of28)
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Alex the Ruppell's Griffon Vulture is cooled in its enclosure at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling as temperatures continue to rise across Scotland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 9, 2013. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan /PA Wire (credit:PA)
Summer weather (06 of28)
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Alex the Ruppell's Griffon Vulture is cooled in its enclosure at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling as temperatures continue to rise across Scotland. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather (07 of28)
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Harry the Otter cools down in the hot weather at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather (08 of28)
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Ring Tailed Lemurs cool down in the hot weather at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather (09 of28)
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Ring Tailed Lemurs cool down in the hot weather at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather (10 of28)
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Neli the brown the bear cools down in the hot weather with frozen fruit at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather (11 of28)
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Loki the brown the bear cools down in the hot weather with frozen fruit at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather(12 of28)
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Tupelo the chimp cools down in the hot weather with a frozen yoghurt at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather(13 of28)
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Jasper the miniature schnauzer takes a break from the hot weather in a garden in Nottingham, England. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(14 of28)
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Ring Tailed Lemurs cool down in the hot weather at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Animals receive silver service at London Zoo(15 of28)
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Humboldt penguins swim together at ZSL London Zoo in Regents Park, London. (credit:PA)
Pygmy hippo calf(16 of28)
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Pygmy hippo calf Georgina, takes a dip in her outside pool for the first time in her paddock at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire. (credit:PA)
Animals receive silver service at London Zoo(17 of28)
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Gary Devereaux, Executive Chef of The Terrace Restaurant, feeds to penguins at ZSL London Zoo in Regents Park, London. (credit:PA)
Snow Leopards at Marwell Zoo(18 of28)
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Three 12 week old snow leopard cubs, Animesh, Ariun and the third as yet un-named cub venture from their cave at Marwell Zoo near Winchester for the first time. (credit:PA)
Pygmy hippo calf(19 of28)
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Pygmy hippo calf Georgina, takes a dip in her outside pool for the first time in her paddock at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 9(20 of28)
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Baby Asian Elephants Hari and Bala Hi-Way take a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 7(21 of28)
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An Elephant uses his trunk to cover himself in dust to protect against the sun at Twycross Zoo,Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 7(22 of28)
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Black and White Ruffed Lemurs eating an ice lolly with apples in at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(23 of28)
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Loki the brown the bear cools down in the hot weather with frozen fruit at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 12(24 of28)
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Tupelo the chimp cools down in the hot weather with a frozen yoghurt at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling. Staff at the Safari Park have given some of their animals frozen treats to cool down in the hot weather. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 9(25 of28)
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Baby Asian Elephant Nayan Hi-Way takes a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo. (credit:PA)
Summer weather July 9(26 of28)
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Baby Asian Elephants Nayan, Hari and Bala Hi-Way take a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo. (credit:PA)
Summer weather June 19(27 of28)
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A man and his dog enjoy the sun at Belsay Hall in Northumberland as the UK may bask in the hottest day of the year so far today, forecasters said. (credit:PA)
Summer Weather July 13(28 of28)
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Molly the Golden Retriever playing with her ball on a beach in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, as England and Wales are preparing to bask in scorching temperatures today as the hottest day of the year so far arrives. (credit:PA)

Swathes of south-east England recorded temperatures in the high twenties and 30C (86F) was recorded at Coventry Airport and Cranfield, Bedfordshire.

The Met Office said London's maximum temperature today could reach 33C (91.4F) coming close to equalling the hottest day of the year which was just over a week ago on July 22 when the 33.5C (92.3F) peak was a seven-year high.

Today's UK temperatures - which were hotter than Barcelona, Cape Town, Mumbai and Venice - prompted bookies to offer odds that August would be a record breaker.

Ladbrokes offered 8/1 that August's hottest temperature will surpass our hottest August from 2003.

A decade ago that was 38.5C (101.3F) on August 10 2003.

Jessica Bridge, of Ladbrokes, said: "The second heatwave of the summer is in full swing and the odds suggest we're in for another scorcher.

"The faster the temperatures rise the quicker the odds will drop when it comes to breaking weather records."