Hotter than Ibiza! Mercury soars to 28C today

• Heatwave engulfing the UK will see temperatures soar to 29C today
• Worst of storms that battered Britain now passed, according to the Met Office

The UK is sizzling as Brits bask in hotter weather than Ibiza – while the mercury soars to 28 degrees today amid this week’s mini heatwave.

The sunny weather is set to continue throughout the week, with temperatures sticking in the high 20s.

Many took to the water to cool off as temperatures soared to 28C in the south of the country today, compared to a downright chilly 26C in San Antonio. 

Most areas are set to have a dry day, but there will be some scattered thundery showers across the west of Scotland and Northern Ireland – including hailstones and a lot of rain.

But any remaining showers are expected tp ease through the evening to leave a mostly dry night with clear spells, according to the Met Office. 

It comes just a day after flash floods, thunder and torrential downpours battered Britain on Monday. 

The continuing heatwave has seen temperatures soar to sweltering heights throughout the day – with the worst of yesterday’s storms having passed. 

A plume of hot air driven from the south has seen the country confronted with drean BBQ conditions but torturous sleeping weather.

Tomorrow, the morning’s early mist will clear to reveal a mostly dry day with lashings of warm sunshine. 

The end of the week and weekend is expected to be dry and settled with some very warm sunshine, but some showers are possible in the west on Saturday. 

Britain’s Environment Agency also warned flooding is expected in areas along the River Weaver in West Cheshire.

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: ‘The weather will try and settle down on Tuesday and mid-week. But it will maintain this well-above-average temperature. Most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria.’ 

But it has been forecast that on Friday June 16 the UK will enjoy a short break from the heatwave and temperatures will fall below 24C in most areas- hopefully bringing an end to the muggy evenings.

By June 23 the temperatures will return –  with the majority of the country facing above average heat until July 11. 

According to the Met Office some places across the UK have exceeded the heatwave threshold already, with temperatures reaching above 30C for the first time in 2023. 

Warmer temperatures are expected in the west and Eastern areas, especially coasts which may see cloudy cool periods. 

More thunderstorms and spells of rain are expected between then, but temperatures aren’t expected to average until mid-July. 

They have warned to protect your skin as UV levels will be high or very high across the UK.

And unfortunately for hay fever sufferers, pollen levels will also remain extremely high.

The warnings come as severe rain and thunderstorms flooded Luton and Dunstable Hospital at around 3pm yesterday afternoon.

The hospital was forced to ask patients attending its emergency department to come only for life-threatening illnesses or injuries after rain water spread throughout the building. 

READ MORE: Moment water pours from Waitrose ceiling before it collapses in front of shocked shoppers as Britain is battered by torrential rain, hail and thunder with roads left underwater and homes left without power

The closures saw ambulances forced to divert patients away from the Bedfordshire hospital before it was declared fully functional two hours later. 

Weather alerts for thunderstorms remain in place for Scotland and Northern Ireland after much of the UK was battered by rain, hail and lightning on Monday.

The Met Office issued yellow thunderstorm warnings to parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland from 12pm to 9pm, with areas affected expected to see heavy rainfall, hail and thunderstorms.

The Met Office said the north west Highlands and the west of Northern Ireland will experience ‘heavy and thundery showers’ between midday and 9pm today. 

The Environment Agency says three flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, are also in place for areas along the River Weaver in west Cheshire.

It comes after an amber thunderstorm warning was issued on Monday as parts of the UK were hit by heavy rain and strong winds, while roads were flooded around the country.

The torrential rain temporarily halted the Manchester City trophy parade, which celebrated the club winning the treble, with the start time pushed back half an hour to 7pm due to the downpours.

Driving conditions worsened and the UK weather service warned some communities could temporarily be cut off due to floods.

The warning covered parts of Leicester, Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Oxford, with Liverpool and parts of the north west also affected.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said four fire engines were called to a house in Lytham St Annes on Monday night after a lightning strike caused the roof to catch on fire. No injuries were reported.

Met Office forecaster and meteorologist Simon Partridge said the worst of the thunderstorms has now passed and drier weather was expected going into the latter parts of the week.

He said: ‘We’ve got high pressure starting to rebuild over the course of the day and when you get high pressure that’s what gives us lots of dry, settled weather, like what we’ve had over the last couple of weeks.

‘That’s becoming more established tomorrow and through the week so we will see a lot of the country [on Tuesday] be dry with sunny spells.

‘The thunderstorms have gradually been working their way westwards over the last couple of days because the area of the warmest and most humid air has drifted its way westwards, as a result… we’re expecting to see thunderstorms across parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland.

‘A few heavy rain spells are possible and could see some heavy downpours so there is the potential to see 20mm-plus of rain over a couple of hours, so not as much as we’ve seen over the last couple of days but certainly enough that anyone travelling will have to be aware.’

Tuesday is expected to be another hot day across the UK as both London and Manchester are forecast to see highs of 28C during the day.

The Mayor of London has also issued a high air pollution warning to those in the capital, the second of the year, caused by high temperatures and pollution being carried over from the continent.

Sadiq Khan asked people to do their part to stop themselves contributing to the pollution levels.

He said: ‘Pollution and heat can be a dangerous combination, which is why I’m urging Londoners to look after themselves and each other by choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport, avoid unnecessary car journeys, stop their engines idling and refrain from burning wood or garden waste, all of which contribute to high levels of pollution.

‘This is particularly important in order to protect those who are most vulnerable and help us to build a safer and greener London for all.’