UK weather: Britain swelters in 28C today as hottest April day in seven years expected with 30C heat on way for tomorrow

Britain enjoyed its hottest April day in seven years today as temperatures soared towards 28C (82F) ahead of even warmer weather on the way tomorrow.

The UK was hotter than holiday hotspots across Europe – while trains could not run in areas of London, Berkshire and Yorkshire because of ‘high track temperatures’.

It could be the warmest start to May on record tomorrow as some areas may reach 30C (86F), but forecasters say this week will fall short of an official heatwave.

Conditions are far warmer than normal for this time of year, with late April average temperatures around 12C (54F) for Scotland and 16C (61F) for southern England.

Great Western Railway said fewer trains could run between London Paddington and Reading because of a speed restriction brought in due to ‘high track temperatures’..

The same problem impacted TransPennine Express services between Malton and York stations in North Yorkshire, and Stalybridge and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.

The highest temperature recorded today was 27.0C (80.6F) in Lakenheath, Suffolk -meaning the all-time April high of 29.4C (84.9F) in London in 1949 still stands.

Today is the third day in a row that the record for the UK’s hottest day of 2025 so far has been broken – after temperatures hit 24.9C (76.8F) yesterday in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire; and 24.5C (76.1F) on Monday at St James’s Park in London.

People flock to Bournemouth beach this afternoon to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far

Sunbathers catch some sunshine at Cullercoats Bay beach in North Tyneside this morning

Beachgoers sunbathe at Southend-on-Sea in Essex this afternoon as temperatures soar

In comparison, Greece will see 26C (77F) in Corfu, 22C (72F) in Athens and 17C (63F) in Crete today; while Spain will be 22C (72F) in Barcelona and 19C (66F) in Ibiza. It will even be hotter than the Canary Islands, with 25C (77F) in Lanzarote and Tenerife.

Tomorrow is likely to be the UK’s warmest start to May on record, with the current all-time high for May 1 being 27.4C (81.3F) at Lossiemouth in Moray in 1990.

Met Office meteorologist Michael Silverstone said it looks ‘unlikely’ the UK will reach a heatwave this week, meaning the UK Health Security Agency will not issue a heat-health alert.

The Met Office definition of a heatwave is three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding the ‘heatwave threshold’, which varies across the country.

The threshold is 25C (77F) for most of the UK, with slightly higher numbers for the South and East and rising to 28C (82F) in London.

Mr Silverstone said: ‘Based on the definition of a heatwave, it looks unlikely that we’ll reach one this week.

‘Admittedly, it could be close for a few places in the South, though, with temperatures either today or Friday only just failing to exceed the required threshold.’

He added: ‘Today, temperatures are set to reach around 27C, maybe even 28C, then climbing to 29C or even 30C tomorrow.

‘If we reach 30C on Thursday May 1, it will be the earliest date in May that the UK has seen 30C since our records began in 1860.’

Temperatures are expected to ease by Friday, and Saturday will bring cooler conditions of 14C to 18C across the UK.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said it was ‘not particularly unusual to see warm and sunny periods in April where temperatures reach the mid-20s’.

A paddleboarder enjoys the weather at Cullercoats Bay beach in North Tyneside today

A woman walks her dogs along the Southbank next to the River Thames in sunny London today

People out enjoying the weather in Southend-on-Sea in Essex today as temperatures soar

Commuters take advantage of the spring weather to cycle around central London today

People relaxing in the warm sunshine by Regent’s Canal in Granary Square, London, today 

People walk through the Hill Garden and Pergola near Hampstead in North London today

Walkers out in the early morning sunshine in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, today

A man sunbathes in a London park today in scenes echoed across the country

He added: ‘However, it is more unusual to see temperatures reach the high-20s, and if we see 30C this week, it will be the earliest point in the year in which we have achieved that threshold.’

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has urged caution around open-water swimming after last month saw a 32% increase in water-related incidents compared with the same period last year.

Craig Carter, LFB assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: ‘Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold. Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how fit or experienced they are.

‘It can lead to water inhalation and, in the worst cases, drowning. Be particularly careful near the water’s edge, it’s easy to slip and fall unexpectedly.

‘And think twice before jumping into open water.’

In the first quarter of 2025, LFB crews responded to 160 water-related incidents, averaging more than 13 per week compared with fewer than 11 a week in 2024, the LFB said.