The Met Office has declared today (June 24) as the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 35.7C recorded in Charlwood, Surrey, surpassing the previous high of 35.6C recorded in 1976 and 1957. The exceptionally hot and humid conditions have prompted the forecaster to issue a rare red warning for extreme heat.

Driven by a "heat-dome" settling over western Europe that has brought extreme conditions across the continent, the heatwave has led to health warnings, school closures, and transport disruption. A red warning came into force at 9am on Wednesday and will last until 9pm on Thursday as temperatures near 40C.

Temperatures will exceed 30C for many tomorrow, with a peak of around 38C, though there’s still a chance of this being exceeded.

Overnight highest minimum temperature records for June could also be broken in the coming days.

Wales is already provisionally seeing its overnight temperature on record for the month, with 20.3C the lowest figure reached at St Athan, South Glamorgan, on Monday night.

Met Office Chief Forecaster Matthew Lehnert said: "This is exceptional heat for June with temperature records expected to be broken this week.

"Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we’re expecting significant impacts from this heatwave, with health issues likely, even beyond those who are more vulnerable to the heat.

"High humidity is an additional factor for this heatwave which will mean the heat will feel much more potent for many.

"When you couple all of this with the high overnight temperatures, with temperatures likely to stay above 20°C for large parts of England and Wales, these combined impacts all increase the potential for significant impacts."

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