Britain is braced over a record-breaking heatwave this week, with extreme highs sparking chaos.
Warnings were issued as the mercury is set to soar past 32C tomorrow, making the country hotter than the Maldives.
Experts fear it could reach a scorching 43C on Sunday – “obliterating” the UK’s previous record of 38.7C at Cambridge Botanic Garden in July 2019.
It came as crowds descended on beaches and parks to soak up the 29C sunshine yesterday.
Scotland has already recorded its hottest day of the year so far. The Met Office said the temperature reached 27.3C yesterday in Aboyne, on the edge of the Highlands in Aberdeenshire.
Meteorologists say the hot weather is being sparked by hot air from Europe.
It is feared the week-long heat could hit rail infrastructure, pose a danger to the most vulnerable in society and cause “hundreds” of deaths.
The Met Office’s Steven Keates said: “The potential is there to see exceptional heat, potentially record-breaking.
“Some modelling output is offering quite alarming temperatures.
He added: “There is some exceptionally hot air which has developed across Spain and France which could come our way.
“It could be something that we’ve never seen before. There’s a good chance of the record being broken.
“This sort of heat is not going to be particularly welcomed by anybody, except maybe by statisticians.
“It will be dangerous heat, our buildings and infrastructure are designed to cope with that. It will be the vulnerable in society who suffer, the young and the old.
“There will be potential dangers and stress on NHS bodies and there will be restrictions on railways and things like that. People should consider if they travel.
“There’ll also be high pollen and high UV levels.”
Urgent health warnings have been issued as the Met Office said the hottest day could fall next Sunday.
It comes as Brits flocked to beaches and parks over the weekend in a bid to keep cool as temperatures closed in on 30C.
Last night employers were urged to allow flexible working to cope with the heat over fears there may be a flurry of sick days.
A spokeswoman for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said: “Employers should consider flexible ways of working so people can work at home and avoid commuting at busy times, if that is the most comfortable option for them.”
Meanwhile Network Rail warned that the weather could cause lines to “expand and sometimes buckle”, throwing services into chaos.
A spokesman said: “With extremely hot temperatures expected this week, our specialist weather teams will be monitoring key hotspot locations to make sure we can keep services running safely and reliably for passengers.
“Speed restrictions are likely to be in place in some parts of the network most affected by the hot weather.
“This helps because slower trains exert less force on the track and reduce the likelihood of buckling, avoiding the major disruption caused by a buckled rail.
“However, where speed restrictions are in place, journeys can take longer than normal, so we advise passengers to plan ahead and carry a bottle of water with them.”
Meanwhile Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the London School of Economics, warned the weather could cause “hundreds” of deaths.
He said: “This period of high temperatures, we know from past experiences, will unfortunately lead to hundreds of deaths across the country.
“The high temperatures during the day and in the evening means that those that are vulnerable are going to be particularly exposed, at least for the next week.
“At temperatures of low to mid 30s, healthy people should be OK. But those with underlying health issues are the most vulnerable.
“If these temperatures get higher, to temperatures of 40C and beyond, then even healthy people are at risk if they are undertaking strenuous activities.”
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Heat-health alerts have now been issued to the majority of the country, with temperatures set to remain consistently high throughout the duration of next week.
“Most of us can enjoy the hot weather when it arrives, but it is important to keep yourself hydrated and to find shade where possible when UV rays are strongest, between 11am and 3pm.”
