The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for northern England and parts of Wales as the country's heatwave intensifies
The warning comes on the summer solstice, which saw a record breaking crowd at Stonehenge mark the longest day of the year this morning
Temperatures of up to 34C are expected on Saturday, if these are reached, it will be the hottest June day in the UK for six years
An amber heat-health alert, which was issued by UKHSA on Thursday, remains in place due to the high temperatures expected over the next few days
So far the hottest temperature today has been recorded in Surrey, where it reached 32.2C in Charlwood
How are you coping with the high temperatures today? Let us know on WhatsApp, +44 7756 165803
Watch: Crowd cheers as the sun rises at Stonehenge on summer solstice
Our colleagues at BBC Weather have sent us the latest forecast for today, which includes information on the thunderstorms we have been telling you about.
The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning from 17:00 BST for parts of Wales and the north of England.
Darren Bett
BBC weather presenter
Hot and humid weather has been building in northern and eastern parts on England ahead of cloud and a few showers.
Charlwood in Surrey has reached 32.2C making today the joint warmest day of the year so far.
Temperatures could get a little higher before cloud arrives.
Nearly 600 people in England and Wales are predicted to die as a result of this week's heatwave, researchers have found.
Experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London used decades of UK data to predict excess mortality during the hot temperatures from Thursday to Sunday.
Their study forecasts that around 570 people will die because of the heat over the four days - with a peak estimated at 266 on Saturday when the heat will be at its most intense.
The researchers said their assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK.
"Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death," says Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London.
As we've been reporting, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning as the heatwave intensifies.
With temperatures of up to 34C expected, parts of northern England, the Scottish Borders and Wales, will be under a thunderstorm warning from 17:00 on Saturday until 03:00 on Sunday.
Thunderstorms are expected because the humid weather means there is plenty of moisture in unstable atmospheric conditions.
An amber heat-health alert in England issued by the UK Health Security Agency is also in force until Monday.
Areas potentially affected include:
Matt Taylor
BBC Weather
There are several different reasons that have come together to cause this current hot spell, not just the obvious answer that “it’s summer”.
Initially we saw an area of high pressure build across the UK. With clear and sunny skies overhead, this helped to warm the ground and air over the UK a bit more with each passing day.
The prolonged dry weather we have experienced recently is another part of the equation.
The ground is still very dry at the moment. A dry ground heats up much quicker than a damp one, as the Sun’s energy isn’t being used to evaporate water, and that dry ground then gives the air temperature an extra boost.
Then over the last few days, as the area of high pressure has drifted east, developing southerly winds have added extra heat (and humidity) from western Europe into the mix, too.
And of course there is the issue of climate change. Whilst summer heatwaves aren’t unusual, climate scientists have told us that global temperature rises are making such heatwaves more common, longer-lasting and more extreme when they occur.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe RSPCA has some advice on how to best keep your pets cool during the heatwave:
The Woodgreen Pets Charity also advises dog owners to walk them in the early morning and late evening to avoid the brunt of the heat.
Outdoors small pet enclosures should be moved to the shade and you can also provide some extra relief from the sun to your pets by putting out extra pots and pet-friendly plants around your gardens and balconies.
Matt Taylor
BBC Weather
Image source, Getty ImagesI think we all know how notoriously changeable the UK climate is, and having a heatwave this early in the summer does not mean the rest of the season will follow suit.
However, most seasonal forecasts for the UK point to a higher than usual chance that this summer will be hotter than normal.
This is largely attributed to the background of climate change. As average global temperatures rise, so will the chance of hotter spells and potential heatwaves.
The forecast for rainfall over the summer is much less clear.
As many are discovering today, hot weather doesn’t automatically mean sunshine and when you have higher temperatures any storms that do form tend to produce more rainfall.
We can now bring you some more pictures from this morning's summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, where an estimated 25,000 people gathered earlier today.
The event is one of the few occasions people can walk next to the stones at the ancient site near Salisbury in Wiltshire.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersOne couple held their Handfasting ceremony at Stonehenge as the sun rose in front of them
Image source, ReutersThe summer solstice marks the beginning of the astronomical summer, which will last until the end of September
Matt Taylor
BBC Weather
We all know the saying that a British summer is “three fine days and a thunderstorm”.
It stems from our generally changeable weather conditions brought about by our location, with continental Europe on one side and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
For thunderstorms to occur, you need a ready supply of moisture in the atmosphere and the atmosphere to become “unstable”.
This is where the air closer to the ground is warmer than the air above it, causing the air to rise rapidly – the same sort of process that helps a hot air balloon to rise.
Days of daytime heating can cause that temperature difference to occur. The approach of an area of low pressure from the Atlantic results in the same effect, but instead it moves cooler air into the upper atmosphere rather than warming it from below.
This weekend is a mix of both, ahead of a change to fresher conditions through Sunday. The humid weather that most of us are experiencing today means that there’s plenty of moisture to create some pretty torrential thunderstorms too.
As a reminder, a yellow thunderstorm warning is in place today in parts of England and Wales.
As we've been reporting, hot weather will still dominate most of the country today, so here's some tips on how to keep yourself cool:
An amber heat-health alert is to remain in place for all regions in England until Monday because of the high temperatures we're expecting to see over the coming days.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the alert on Thursday, warning that "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services.
"Our findings show that heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions," says Dr Agostinho Sousa, UKHSA's head of Extreme Events and Health Protection.
"It is therefore important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun."
BBC Bitesize
Image source, Getty ImagesThe summer solstice is the longest day of the year, giving us a chance to take advantage of added sunlight in what is set to be amongst the wettest summers on record.
It is widely celebrated across the globe, but as with any event of cultural significance, the solstice has accumulated many a myth and folktale over the years.
So we're here to set the record straight, and help you sort the truth from the myths this summer solstice.
Is the summer solstice the hottest day of the year, do some places get 24 hours of daylight today and was Stonehenge really built to align with the Sun on the solstice?
Have you been celebrating the summer solstice? Is the hot weather affecting you? You can contact us in the following ways:
Rorey Bosotti
Live editor
Image source, PA MediaThe Sun rises over Cullercoats Bay on North Tyneside
If you're only just joining us, you have missed the main event but no fear - there's still plenty to come. In the meantime, here's a quick recap of what's happened so far on the longest day of the year:
Jamie Whitehead
Live editor
It was an early start for a many of us today as thousands gathered around the country to celebrate the summer solstice.
My co-editor Rorey and I weren't quite up early enough to see the Sun rise on our way into work this morning, but these pictures of dawn breaking over the capital have made their way to us.
As a reminder, it could be the hottest day in June in six years today, but there are yellow thunderstorm warnings in parts of the country.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA MediaMatt Taylor
BBC Weather
Although some parts of England and Wales are subject to a yellow thunderstorm warning, as we reported in our previous post, some parts of East Anglia are expected to have their fifth day under heatwave conditions.
If we hit 34 Celsius today it will be the hottest June day in six years.
However, temperatures will have already dropped in Northern Ireland relative to recent days, and as westerly winds gradually develop into Sunday that fresher will reach all by Monday.
It’s conceivable though that some in East Anglia may still be above the heatwave threshold on Sunday.
The Met Office forecasts yellow thunderstorm warnings for parts of northern England, the Midlands and Wales from Saturday afternoon into Sunday.
While it will be a dry, at times bright start for many, the Met Office's yellow storm warning will remain in place from 15:00 BST on Saturday until 03:00 on Sunday, with the potential for localised flash flooding, large hail and lightning.
The Met Office says: "The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time. This may lead to some surface water impacts in places."
You can keep up to date with the latest forecasts across the UK in our news story.
The sunrise this morning was pictured by thousands across the UK as crowds welcomed in the summer solstice - the longest day of the year.
Here is a snapshot of some of the pictures we've received so far - and you can send us more on WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630.
Image source, Steve and the team at QECPSteve sent us this photo of the sunrise from Butser Hill in Hampshire
Image source, Gregory BroadbentThe sunrise at Arbor Low in Derbyshire
Image source, SubmittedHere's a view of the sunrise from the sky over Stonehenge from a plane at 3,000ft
The sunrise from Corton in Suffolk
Forecasters expect temperatures to peak at around 33C on Saturday but it is unlikely to be the highest temperature experienced on the day of the summer solstice.
That record was set in 2017 at Heathrow Airport when 34.5C was recorded.
Typically while this solstice is the day with the most sunlight, the UK's weather becomes hotter later in the summer when more heat has accumulated in the air and the ground.
Matt Spivey
Live page editor
Image source, PA MediaIn Cullercoats Bay, North Tyneside, people took an early morning dip to mark the summer solstice
Thousands of people gathered at various sites across the UK this morning to watch the sunset to mark the summer solstice - the longest day of the year.
We've been receiving stunning photos of the sky this morning in Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Lancaster, Cheltenham and many other parts of the UK.
Cheers erupted as the sun rose over Stonehenge this morning, with people across the UK heading out to "celebrate the sun".
The glorious sun rise marked the start of what is set to be another hot day, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 34C and a yellow warning for thunderstorms.
Stay with us throughout the day for the latest updates during the longest day of the year, and do keep sending in your pictures - get in touch on WhatsApp by using 0800 313 4630.