© Danny Lawson/PA
Cambridge was hottest spot at 38.1C, as Met Office issues storm and flood warnings overnight
Britain has experienced its hottest July day and second hottest day on record as the mercury hit 38.1C, the Met Office said.
The highest temperature recorded on Thursday was in Cambridge, which is only the second time temperatures over 100F have been recorded in the UK, according to the Met Office.
Thursday's record temperature surpassed the previous high for the month of 36.7C (98.06F) set at Heathrow in July 2015.
Sweltering temperatures could spark thundery downpours, with a yellow warning for thunderstorms issued for most of England except the south-west, and parts of Scotland, until 4am on Friday. The storms could lead to flash flooding, disruption of train and bus services and even power cuts.
Experts at the Met Office say the current weather pattern is driving hot air from the south, but there is "no doubt" the climate crisis is playing a role in driving what could be unprecedented temperature highs.
Temperatures have now surpassed 25C for a third consecutive day in the majority of the UK, meaning the hot spell is likely to be officially classified as a heatwave. However, Northern Ireland and western Scotland have been cooler, with highs in the low 20s on Wednesday.
Comment: Around the same time a hailstorm made its way through parts of the Netherlands, hailstones the size of baseballs pounded Minnesota, Wisconsin, US: Cars damaged by baseball-sized hail as severe storms pound Minnesota, Wisconsin