The Met Office has extended its extreme heat warning as a heatwave continues to scorch Britain.
The national forecaster issued its first ever extreme heat-health warning this week.
The initial warning was in place until yesterday but has been extended to Friday, July 23, for some parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland as the hot weather is set to continue.
Brits have flocked to the seasides this week in desperation for water to cool off in as temperatures soared above 30C across much of the country.
The heatwave is so scorching Public Health England (PHE) issued a Level 3 heat-health alert on top of the Met Office's amber extreme heat warning.
The extreme heat warning raises the alarm over the threat of health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion - dehydration, nausea, and fatigue - and other illnesses.
The heat health warning lasts until midnight Friday and covers western and southwestern parts of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The amber warning covers the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Oxfordshire, across to Devon and Cornwall, Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and south to Dorset.
Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Birmingham, Coventry, Cardiff and Swansea are among the centres affected by the heat warning.
A separate amber heat health warning is in place until midnight Friday for Northern Ireland too, according to the Met Office's website.
Exeter is set for the hottest temperatures by Wednesday afternoon, with a high of 31C.
Southampton, London and Cardiff are also set to sizzle at 29C.
Scotland will also record temperatures as high as 27C as far north as Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow.
Belfast is also set for scorching 27C highs on Wednesday and Thursday.
Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff are forecast to lead Thursday’s highs with 29C as temperatures in the late-20s reach Yorkshire and Scotland and linger for another day in the south of England.
The Met Office forecast for Friday shows temperatures largely beginning to cool off into the mid-20s.
The sweltering highs look set to ease toward the eastern coastlines before the weekend, northwestern parts of England, Wales, central Scotland and Northern Ireland recording the highest temperatures into Friday afternoon.
Sun-seekers have flocked to the beaches in their thousands as the year's hottest temperatures yet were recorded over the weekend.
Authorities have also issues water warnings as the heatwave drowning death toll mounts.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed the body of a 15-year-old boy was retrieved from a canal in Knottingley on Tuesday.
His tragic death came after a woman aged in her 60s drowned, bringing the total toll to 11 by Wednesday morning.
Cheshire Constabulary sadly confirmed that a body had been found in the hunt for a missing 16-year-old in Frodsham this week too.
Experts urged people revelling in the spell of sweltering weather to take precautions, reports Lancashire Live.
Dr Owen Landeg, scientific and technical lead at PHE, said: "Everybody can be affected by high temperatures and most people are aware of good health advice for coping with hot weather.
"However, it’s important to keep checking on those who are most vulnerable such as older people and those with heart or lung conditions.
"As we experience the first hot weather episode of the year, it’s important for everyone to remember to adapt their behaviours. This is particularly important during the pandemic with many people self-isolating.
"Most of us want to enjoy the sun. Remember to look out for signs of heat exhaustion and follow our simple health advice to beat the heat.
Steven Ramsdale, chief operational meteorologist at the Met Office, added: "The high temperatures are going to continue through a large part of this week, with temperatures regularly in the high 20s and low 30s Celsius by day, along with high overnight temperatures.
"Many areas of the UK will continue to reach heatwave thresholds, and whilst the highest temperatures are likely to be in central and southern parts of the UK, some of the most unusually high temperatures are likely to be seen over parts of the west, particularly over Northern Ireland.
"There’s also a continuing risk of isolated thundery downpours late in the afternoons but most should stay dry until later in the week. Temperatures should fall for most areas into the weekend along with some more unsettled conditions also looking to develop."
Most of the UK continues to bask in hot weather, but some parts have been hit by thunderstorms.
Some heavy, thundery showers developed across central, east and southeastern England on Tuesday afternoon.
