Met Office declares 'hottest day' as mercury hits 32C - but thunderstorm warning imminent

The UK's heatwave looks set to come to a dramatic end as thunderstorms are expected before the end of the week

Today looks set to be the hottest day of the year so far, according to the Met Office, as the mercury soared to 32C in the south east of England.

However, it comes just hours before a yellow warning for thunderstorms comes into force for a large part of the country, bringing the current heatwave to a dreary end.

The weather agency said a high temperature of 32.0C was recorded at Kew Gardens and Heathrow this afternoon, "provisionally making it the warmest day of the year so far in the UK". On July 19, a temperature of 31.9C was recorded in London.

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Brits have been basking in the sunshine in recent days after a wet and chilly start to the summer season. The Met Office has confirmed that Britain is currently experiencing an official heatwave, which is when the temperature threshold is reached on three consecutive days.

Forecasters said the country has been split across the middle, with the hottest temperatures appearing only in the south. The Met Office said much of central and southern England will be getting "hot and humid" conditions this afternoon, with cooler temperatures in the north.

"There is a big temperature contrast from north to south this week," the weather agency said. "Much of central and southern UK will feel hot and humid with temperatures around 30C likely in some towns and cities. Further north, temperatures are closer to average and remain in the high teens or low 20s."

The split in temperatures is expected to continue into this evening with central and southern areas expecting a "warm and muggy night", while in Scotland it will be "much cooler". Some rural areas may even see some spots of grass frost, the Met Office said.

Sunseekers will be disappointed to learn that the warm and pleasant weather looks set to be over before the week comes to an end. Two yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms have been issued, the first of which comes into force across London and the south-eastern coast of England from midday on Wednesday. Forecasters have warned that "some isolated flooding and disruption from thunderstorms" is possible.

Then, on Thursday, a second warning covering the majority of England and Wales will come into force from 1am and remain in place for 23 hours. The Met Office warns: "Multiple rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms are forecast on Thursday, and may lead to some disruption."

Some areas could see as much as a month’s rainfall - between 50 and 100mm - in a few hours on Thursday. Brits are being warned that sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions, while lightning strikes could affect train and bus services and power cuts may also occur.

Meteorologist at the Met Office, Becky Mitchell: "The heat and humidity we’ve got across England and Wales is going to spark off some thundery showers on Wednesday and Thursday so we’ve got some yellow weather warnings in force."

Temperatures are due to return down to the mid-20s in the south as a band of rain moves through the country on Saturday.