According to the Met Office, today has provisionally become the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 32.6°C in Surrey. The ongoing September heatwave in the UK is on

the verge of breaking the record for the most consecutive days with temperatures above 30°C in September. This heatwave is also generating striking sunsets and sunrises due to Saharan dust in the clear skies.

This marks the third consecutive day with temperatures exceeding 30°C, equalling a record seen on four previous occasions, most recently in 2016. The high temperatures are expected to persist through the weekend, with a peak of 33°C forecasted for Saturday.

The Met Office shared on X (formerly known as Twitter): "After getting very close yesterday, today is provisionally the hottest day of the year so far, with 32.60°C recorded in Wisley."

This run of at least 30°C heat over three consecutive September days has occurred only four times on record. Today, this record is set to be surpassed as the run extends to four days. The month with the most 30°C days overall (not necessarily consecutive) was 1911, with five days. This record is also likely to be broken on Saturday, making it six days in September.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert for all regions of England except the North East, effective until Sunday night. Experts warn of the potential for excess deaths, particularly among individuals over 65, newborn babies, and those with underlying health conditions such as heart or lung issues. Photo by Richard Knights, Wikimedia commons.