Britain could see its all-time record temperature broken as the summer heatwave continues.
Recorded in Faversham, Kent in August 2003, 38.5C still tops the temperature chart and while forecasters are predicting highs of 37C on Friday they said there is a chance the record could be beaten.
Holidaymakers and motorists have already faced travel disruption, although forecasters have predicted highs of 37C and potential thunderstorms.
Lightning, flash flooding and large hailstones could hit eastern parts of the UK on Friday afternoon and a thunderstorm warning is in place for the afternoon until just before midnight.
Meanwhile, Eurotunnel has cancelled thousands of tickets after “extreme temperatures” caused major disruption to services.
Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-30s for much of east and south-east England, reaching 37C in London, and could rise higher still if there is a lot of sunshine, the Met Office said.
It also warned the hot weather was set to continue into August.
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The northern hemisphere is experiencing a record-breaking summer, with extreme temperatures sparking wildfires, baking landscapes and triggering disruption and devastation across four continents. The death toll continues to rise and thousands have been admitted to hospital as the intense weather conditions show no sign of subsiding.
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Extreme temperatures set to kill 7,000 every year as incredibly hot summers become normalSweltering temperatures and weeks of clear skies have left it the driest region in England this summer, new figures show.
Rainfall from July 1 to July 24 was only 4 per cent of the long-term average, while it was 17 per cent for the whole of June.
And between June 20 and July 3, average rainfall was zero across the entire region.
The figures, from the Environment Agency, show just how the heatwave is continuing to hurt all parts of England.
Even north-west England, the wettest region so far this month, has seen only 26 per cent of its long-term average rainfall for July.
Central and south-east England have both had only 11 per cent of their average total.
England as a whole had 9mm of rainfall between 1 July and 24 July: 15 per cent of the long-term average.
This compares with a figure of 163 per cent for the whole of July 2017.
With scattered thunderstorms forecast across much of the eastern half of England over the next 24 hours, some areas could be treated to their first substantial rainfall this summer.
The period used by the Environment Agency to calculate the long-term average is 1961 to 1990.
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Warmest year on books still 1976 but 2018 could beat it if trends continueThames Valley Police said a man's body was recovered from the Jubilee River in Slough, adding that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Warwickshire Police officers remain at the Bishops Bowl Lakes area in Bishops Itchington following a report of a 17-year-old boy going into the water on Thursday evening.
Police were called at around 6.30pm after concerns were raised for the boy, and specialist water rescue teams, as well as fire and ambulance crews, are in the area with searches being carried out.
Essex Police said the search for a teenager who was last seen in water near Clacton Pier on Thursday evening resumed on Friday morning.
The force was called amid concerns for the welfare of two teenage boys and were on the scene just after 6.35pm.
One boy was rescued by a lifeboat crew, checked over by medical teams and reunited with his family, but the second remains unaccounted for.
A mix of toxic air, extreme highs, emissions from the continent and a lack of cloud cover caused a "high" air pollution alert to be issued for London.
Meanwhile authorities said the heatwave was causing "winter conditions" in parts of the NHS, while many nurses were said to be dizzy and exhausted.
Fire brigades also called for a ban on BBQs in parks and drivers were urged not to throw rubbish following a string of grassland fires in recent weeks.
And passengers on the Eurotunnel endured five-hour delays as air conditioned units failed while commuters on London's Underground travelled in temperatures above the legal limit for transporting livestock.
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Highs of 37C forecast before heat gives way to cooler conditions for weekendPlease allow a moment for the live blog to load
Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures of 35C (95F) recorded at Heathrow.
A mix of toxic air, extreme highs, emissions from the continent and a lack of cloud cover caused a “high” air pollution alert to be issued for London.
Meanwhile authorities said the heatwave was causing “winter conditions” in parts of the NHS, while nursing unions warned that many of their members were dizzy and exhausted.
Fire brigades also called for a ban on barbecues in parks and drivers were urged not to throw rubbish following a string of grassland fires in recent weeks.
And passengers on the Eurotunnel endured five-hour delays as air conditioned units failed while commuters on London’s Underground travelled in temperatures above the legal limit for transporting livestock.
As northern Europe swelters in a prolonged heatwave, scientists have warned climate change is making such heat extremes more likely.
Additional reporting by agencies
