Monday marked the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures soaring to 29.7C in Teddington Middlesex and Met Office meteorologists have said Wednesday could be even warmer in the south.
On Wednesday, Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said there will be a “big temperature contrast” in areas north of Yorkshire compared with much of the county and areas further south.
Temperatures of up to 30C are predicted in London, 24C in Cardiff and 18C in Edinburgh, due to a warm front covering the southern half of the nation.
Keates added the sweltering start to the week will be followed by “three potential rounds of thunderstorms” moving from Europe on Wednesday night, and again on Friday and Sunday.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for the storms which could cause flooding and power cuts from 6pm on Wednesday until 6am on Friday.
All 4 days of warnings cover areas south of Newcastle with the exception of the western edge of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland.