Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/DJ

Just after lunchtime (14:00 BST), the Met Office released some figures on the top temperatures recorded in England. Here's a selection:

• Heathrow Airport: 31.8C (89.2F)
• Wisley, Surrey: 31.7C (89F)
• St James' Park, London: 31.1C (87.9F)
• Charlwood, Surrey: 30.9C (87.6F)
• Kew Gardens, London: 30.8C (87.4F)
• Pershore, Worcestershire: 30.4C (86.7)
• Wittering, Sussex; Benson, Oxfordshire; and Bramham, Yorkshire: 30.3C (86.5F)
• Cranwell, Lincolnshire; and Bedford, Bedfordshire: 30.1C (86.1F)

Feeling the heat today? You’re not alone in seeing an uptick in temperature.

Over the weekend, sweltering conditions in Europe - where temperatures were recorded above 40C (104F) - led to wildfires in Izmir, Turkey.

In the video below, you can see how different countries have been responding to the intense heat, which looks set to continue into July.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

What's the forecast? Much of England is scorching today, with temperatures reaching 32C in London this afternoon.

The spell of warm weather has even led to heat health alerts being extended into July in some areas, with warnings in place until early Wednesday.

But it is not sunny everywhere. Our weather reporter in Scotland says it's a time for brollies not ice lollies; while some of you have been in touch from Cumbria asking: "heatwave, what heatwave?"

Regardless, we've been hearing your tips - frozen banana-related and otherwise - about keeping cool, and there's a warning from our correspondent about walking your dog in the heat.

Some of your pets have been taking advantage of the sunny conditions for a spot of sunbathing, while one entrepreneurial youngster has been spotted cashing in on Glastonbury departees' appetite for ice lollies, there hasn’t been much need for brollies there.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon has opened its doors to the provisionally hottest opening day on record - after some fans braved long queues in sweltering tents to grab tickets.

We'll continue to bring you updates and advice from our team of weather experts. Stick with us.

Kris Bramwell
BBC News

We've been enjoying taking a look at all our readers' comments sent in to us so far. Earlier we had some advice saying to freeze a whole banana on a kebab stick - let's share some of your latest comments.

Michael advises to run a cold bath and lie in it for five minutes, "yes, just do it", he says while explaining it "refreshes your mind like you have come out of a really good meditation".

I'll whisper it quietly, but for now the rail services seem to be running okay ... Gill shares her experience: "I am on a very hot train, but keeping cool with baby wipe compresses and a bottle of spring water."

"It’s too darned hot……for a Geordie lady!!" jokes Pattie Baldwin.

But the heat isn't engulfing all parts of the UK.

Lindsay in Wales says it is not hot adding "we have had little sun over the weekend". While Pam in Lancashire tells us: "What heatwave???? I am in Blackpool and not even blue skies. No heat here."

For other - less daunting - tips to stay cool, see our 2022 piece here.

Elizabeth Rizzini
Lead weather presenter

Image source, PA

A tropical night is classed as a night when temperatures do not drop below 20C (68F) even at the very coolest point of the night, which is usually just before dawn.

Last night temperatures in St James's Park in London didn't drop below 18.9C. Tonight we are forecasting a tropical night in the London area with lows of 20C.

As the heatwave continues, the heat builds further and tropical nights become more likely.

They are becoming less rare in the UK now, according to the Met Office. The last one was recorded on 11 - 12 August in Gogerddan in Wales.

What is unusual is how early in the year we are seeing them. Summer heat is usually more intense in July and August. The last one in June was in 2020 in Hastings.

Cooler night-time conditions are important for health when the days are hot to help regulate body temperature. High overnight minimum temperatures are associated with higher mortality rates among vulnerable groups.

We can expect to see more tropical nights as our climate continues to warm and heatwaves become more frequent, more intense and last longer.

Kris Bramwell
BBC News

Image source, PA Media

Some of our readers have been sharing tips with us about how they plan to stay cool as the temperatures continue to rise into this afternoon.

Roanna, from Brighton, says she's going to treat her nine year-old twins to a "sprinkler cool down" on the way home from school.

Sioux Wright suggests using a damp towel instead of a bedsheet to help keep cool overnight.

Another reader, with the username Pets Explained, advises using an iced gel cooling mat for dogs on your own bed.

They suggest: "Put it in the freezer for a few hours. At nighttime, take it out, unfold it, and lay it across your bed. Put a thin blanket or sheet over it to avoid direct skin contact (dampen for longest lasting results) and enjoy!"

Image source, Bettys Hot Spot/Weather Watchers

As the UK basks in the sunshine, so do many pets.

We've been seeing pictures of dogs, cows and a tortoise making the most of the heat today.

But, remember, animals need to keep cool just like us - here are some tips on how to keep your pets safe.

Want to share pics of your pets in the sunshine? How are you coping in the heat? Get in touch here.

Image source, Elizabeth Evans

Image source, carol/Weather Watchers

Image source, Getty Images

There's science behind any extra sniffles you may be experiencing today, as the Met Office says UV and pollen levels will be "very high" for many.

UV and pollen levels are highest in eastern and southern England, according to Met Office forecasts.

Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon says high pollen levels are due to the weather in late spring, where the combination of warm weather increased grass growth but the dry conditions conversely reduced that growing potential.

"While short dry spells and high temperatures mid-season can increase pollen levels, over a prolonged period this could lead to depletion of the available pollen on the plants," he adds.

• BBC Weather examines why your hayfever might be bad at the moment

While many of us in the UK are sweltering, let's see how others are faring on the mainland.

The highest temperatures will be in central and southern France - where Bordeaux could see temperatures of up to 39 or 40 degrees on Tuesday.

Though a change in the weather front will introduce some fresher air later in the week, here's the full forecast:

Katie Roberts
Reporting from Shepton Mallet

Image source, Katie Roberts / BBC

As we've reported, thousands of people are heading home from the Glastonbury music festival in Somerset today.

In nearby Shepton Mallet, seven-year-old Jacob is keeping the travellers cool by selling £1 ice lollies outside his house.

Katie Thompson
Reporting from Twycross Zoo

Image source, BBC News

How do you keep a Columbian black spider monkey cool in the heat? Give them ice of course!

No, it’s not a joke - that’s just one of the things staff here at Twycross Zoo in the East Midlands are doing to help keep the animals cool today.

In fact ice is on the menu for a lot of the animals today. Gorillas were served up green beans and sweet potatoes in a block of ice for lunch - one waited patiently inside as the zoo keepers spread a few around his enclosure.

The Vicuñas enjoyed a shower in a sprinkler that was set up in their enclosure too.

The heat hasn’t deterred visitors though as school trips and parents with toddlers are here enjoying a day out.

Image source, PA Media

As we've been reporting, provisional Met Office data shows today has seen the hottest opening day at the Wimbledon tennis championships in history.

Some tennis fans, though, have also endured muggy tents and long waits in the sun, having camped for days in the heat to bag a spot at the front of the famous Wimbledon queue.

Vicki Broad, a 57-year-old from Swansea, arrived on Friday morning, and admits: "The sun has been tough but we're in the shade now".

Image source, PA Media

Some are more seasoned in the heat than others.

Maria Iniesta, a 47-year-old physician from Madrid, queued with her husband, sister and children after travelling nearly 5,000 miles for a chance of securing Centre Court tickets.

"For us the weather is fine because we're from Spain but we live in Houston," she says.

"It's been funny to watch the British people sweating - it's been easy for us."

• Read more tales from the queue in our news story.

It's a scorching 32C (89.6F) currently in Peterborough, eastern England, where many people have been pictured flocking to a local lido.

What a day for it in Cambridgeshire.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Switzerland has become the latest European country to experience record-breaking temperatures this week.

It's the first time that June has seen the entire Alpine range above 0C (32F).

This means snow and ice will start melting right up to mountain summits, which puts more pressure on Switzerland's glaciers.

Climate scientists say the glaciers will disappear by the end of the century if global warming continues at its current rate.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Today has seen the hottest start to the Wimbledon tennis championships on record, provisional Met Office data shows.

It says "temperatures have risen to 29.7C at Kew Gardens", which is nearby in west London, making today "provisionally the warmest start to Wimbledon on record".

Before today's provisional figures, which are subject to change, the hottest opening day on record at Wimbledon was in 2001, when temperatures hit 29.3C.

Joy Dunlop
BBC Scotland weather forecaster

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Rockdoc

Low pressure is driving Scotland's forecast this week, giving largely unsettled conditions for much of the week.

Today, Atlantic fronts will feed in rain from the west that will be heavy and thundery at times and accompanied by blustery winds.

This mild air flow does mean that it will feel humid for some; with temperatures reaching 20 to 24C widely.

In the Northern and Western Isles, however, it's only forecast to reach the mid-teens.

So, for some it's brollies not ice-lollies today!

It isn't just parts of the UK that are experiencing warmer weather today.

As we reported a little earlier, other parts of Europe have experienced a weekend of intense heat. Temperatures in much of southern Europe are expected to remain above 40C (104F) today.

In Izmir, Turkey, firefighters have resumed efforts to tackle blazes, which are consuming houses and parts of the surrounding landscape. Here's some of the latest footage we've seen from Turkey:

Kris Bramwell
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

We've been enjoying taking a look at all our readers' comments sent in to us so far. Some of you have been offering some rather unique advice for how to manage high temperatures.

Nikki says "freeze a whole banana on a kebab stick". She tells us it's "delicious and full of potassium; vital in heat".

A "glass of washed grapes in the fridge", too, can be very refreshing, she adds.

Nikki also recommends that people who struggle in the heat "keep a wet flannel in a bowl next to the bed" and run cold water over their wrists for instant relief.

Meanwhile, Shivani in north London, who experiences seizures, recommends people make sure they drink enough water to stay safe.

She tells us that she doesn't think the UK has the best infrastructure to manage heatwaves.

We're interested in hearing from you to find out how the heat is affecting your day.

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How unusual are today's temperature forecasts?published at 11:22 British Summer Time 30 June

11:22 BST 30 June

Mark Poynting
Climate reporter

Forecasts suggest temperatures of 34C (93F) are possible on Monday.

These temperatures used to be very rare for the UK.

In the second half of the 20th Century, one in 10 years saw highs of 35C or more, BBC analysis of Met Office data shows.

But between 2015 and 2024, half of the years saw 35C or above.

As my BBC Weather colleague Simon King pointed out earlier, these temperatures are even more unusual for June - typically the coolest summer month.

It’s just one example of how very high temperatures are becoming more common.