Image source, EPA

There's been a lot of talk that this week could see the hottest day of 2023, and one of the hottest September days ever. So what are the current heat records in the UK?

The highest temperature of the year so far is 32.2C, recorded at Chertsey on 10 June and Coningsby on 25 June.

The highest ever temperature in September was recorded in 1906. The September record for the UK and England stands at 36.6C, on 2 September 1906 at Bawtry, Hesley Hall in South Yorkshire.

The hottest September temperatures of the other nations are:

• Wales: 32.3C on 1 September 1906 at Hawarden Bridge in Flintshire
• Scotland: 32.2C on 1 September 1906 at Gordon Castle in Moray
• Northern Ireland: 27.6C on 1 September 1906 at Armagh

Ready for some more science behind the weather? Here's a brief explanation of how the jet stream plays its part.

Heatwaves are most common in summer when high air pressure develops across an area.

High pressure causes warm air to sink. The result is a dome of hot air that traps the heat near the ground.

These heatwaves can occur in the UK due to the location of the jet stream - which is a fast-flowing current of air that travels around the planet which occurs when warmer air from the south meets cooler air from the north.

When the jet stream moves north of the UK - as is happening in this case - the weather tends to become warmer.

Watch the animated map above to see the changing path of the jet stream.

It's midday in the UK so it seems like a good time for a BBC weather forecast.

In this video Matt Taylor tells us what to expect for the rest of the week - including the prospect of some isolated showers and even thunderstorms in some western parts.

For much of England and Wales, temperatures will remain in the high 20s. The mercury is set to cross 30-32C in the southeast, and anything higher than 32.2C will make it the warmest day of the year so far.

You've been sending us beautiful shots of the views where you're based and we're delighted to share a couple of them on our live coverage.

From Wales to Scotland, we've got your pictures showing both clear skies and a cloudy breeze.

Image source, The Lonely Shepherdess / BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Dave / BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Leafylane / BBC Weather Watchers

Image source, Nellington / BBC Weather Watchers

Some of us might enjoy a bout of hot weather, but others find it a challenge.

So here's some science to explain why the heat can make you feel unwell.

Our bodies strive to keep a core temperature of about 37C whether we're in a snowstorm or a heatwave.

It is the temperature our bodies have evolved to work at.

But as the weather gets hotter, the body has to work harder to keep its core temperature down.

It opens more blood vessels near the skin to lose heat to our surroundings and starts sweating.

As the sweat evaporates, it dramatically increases the heat lost from the skin.

Remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and don't drink too much alcohol.

For more facts about how a heatwave can affect us click here.

Image source, .

Image source, Blackpool Zoo

The summer holidays might be over, but the really wild residents at Blackpool Zoo are making the most of the September sunshine.

Zoos across the UK - like in Blackpool - have taken extra precautions to keep their animals cool during the hot weather.

Animals been enjoying cooling treats such as frozen sprats and fruit and many are taking a dip in the nearest pool.

Blackpool Zoo say the otters love to feel the sun while the elephants and orangutans are partial to a cooling drink from the hose.

Matt Taylor
BBC Weather

After summer holidays dominated by rain-bearing areas of low pressure, high pressure has become dominant across central and northern Europe, including the UK.

It’s this which is keeping things mainly dry through the rest of this week.

Around the fringes of the High, Storm Daniel has become stuck close the Greece, causing intense rain and flooding.

However, it’s the area of low pressure to the west of the High, near Portugal, that is helping to push hot and humid air northwards in the direction of us.

It’s proximity will also be responsible for the odd thunderstorm in the west over the next few days.

Image source, PA Media

As we've reported, heat health alerts have been upgraded for much of England amid warnings of temperatures of up to 32C.

There is an amber warning in eight of the country's nine regions until Sunday.

Only the North East has a yellow one.

The nice days and weather mean World War II vintage aircraft like this Tiger Moth above, will be able to fly above Northumberland landmarks.

As today's hot weather kicks in, heading to a local park for an impromptu barbecue can seem seriously appealing, but there are strict rules when it comes to lighting one up in parks and green spaces.

Wherever you are in the UK it is best to check with your local council for the best advice.

But, in London - which is set to see temperatures of at least 31C - only six parks in the whole of the capital allow for barbecues.

Research by construction company Barratt London, external analysed rules by each 32 borough council. Last year, London's firefighters tackled nearly 250 fires in parks in June, July and August alone.

London's Royal Parks also have limits on the number of people allowed for a picnic too - exceeding the numbers could result in extra costs.

These include:

• Bushy Park - 20 guests
• Green Park - 20 guests
• Greenwich Park - 25 guests
• Kensington Gardens - 30 guests
• St James’s Park - 30 guests
• Hyde Park - 40 guests
• Regent’s Park - 40 guests 
• Richmond Park - 40 guests 

Our weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has been at St James's Park in London since 06:00 BST this morning.

Carol sent us a lovely image of the sunrise in one of the capital's most iconic parks - and some cute ducks!

Let's head over to the west of England where some coastal towns are expecting a bit of a cash boost with the extended warm weather.

Cllr Mike Solomon admits footfall in Weston-super-Mare has been down the last few months as he sums it up as "not a great" summer.

But, he tells BBC Breakfast things are on the up as the temperature rises.

"This is just fabulous for Weston-super-Mare," the North Somerset Council remarks.

"The kids are back at school, but we can extend our season for another month or so to get tourists into town.

"Going forward, if the weather holds, this is going to pay the bills and give that bit of profit."

You can see BBC Weather's detailed forecast where you are here.

As the UK wakes up to what could be the hottest day of the year, let's take a look at some pictures coming in from the south of England this morning.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

If you have some photos of the weather in your area please share them with us.

Get in touch on WhatsApp +44 7756 165803 or email yourquestions@bbc.co.uk

After two storms in August and a very wet July - the UK’s sixth wettest, and Northern Ireland’s wettest July since records began in 1836.

So, why has the warmth returned?

Our colleagues at BBC Weather explain that as the Atlantic storm season cranks into gear, decaying storm systems in the mid-Atlantic have helped to buckle the jet stream to the north of the UK.

This helps high pressure build over us and draws in warmer and more humid air as a result.

A jet stream is a fast-flowing current of air that travels around the planet.

When the jet stream is below the UK, it creates low pressure in the atmosphere, making wetter, windier and colder conditions.

But when the jet stream moves further north of the UK, we tend to get warmer weather, due to high pressure brought to us by tropical winds.

Matt Taylor
BBC Weather

Today and tomorrow have the potential to be the hottest day of the year, exceeding the 32.2C recorded at Chertsey (Surrey) on 10 June and Coningsby (Lincolnshire) on 25 June.

If we do exceed it, it will be only the fifth time in the last century that the warmest day of the year has occurred in September. The last time it happened was in 2016, when 34.4C was recorded at Gravesend, on 13 September.

The UK's September temperature record is unlikely to be beaten though. That stands as 35.6C, recorded in Bawtry (now South Yorkshire, then in the West Riding) in 1906.

For more information, you can head to the BBC Weather's website here.

An amber alert is issued in situations that could potentially put people of all ages at risk.

It is one level below the highest red alert, and means that weather conditions could affect the whole population, and put strain on the the NHS.

There will likely be disruption to travel. There is an amber warning in eight of the country's nine regions until Sunday - only the North East has a yellow one.

English regions included in the amber warning are: London, the South East, the South West, the East and West Midlands, the East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber.

Image source, .

Image source, EPA

Temperatures are expected to return to average by the middle of next week.

Heatwaves are becoming more likely and more extreme because of climate change.

Last year the UK recorded temperatures above 40C for the first time. Scientists said that would have been "virtually impossible without climate change".

The Met Office has also explained the reason for some "picturesque" sunsets across the UK.

Forecasters say it is due to Saharan dust which began to cover parts of the country yesterday and will continue for the rest of the week.

Image source, PA Media

In addition to soaring temperatures, the Met Office has warned that “thundery downpours” are on the way too.

There’s an increasing change of thunder and rain in the west, and some from Friday onward may require a “warning, external response, external”, Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates said.

A heatwave is a period of unusually hot weather.

To be considered a heatwave, temperatures have to be above normal averages for the time of year in a specific area. In the UK, a heatwave is declared when temperatures either reach or go beyond the threshold for a particular location for three days in a row.

This temperature threshold is different for each UK region and county - as it's generally warmer in southern parts of the UK than northern areas.

This Met Office map shows the different thresholds across the country.

Image source, .

James Harness
Live reporter

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the heatwave across many parts of the UK.

It has been a quite washout of a summer until now - July was the sixth wettest for the UK as whole and Northern Ireland's wettest.

But, we are now gearing up for a heatwave which could see the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching more than 30C for some today and tomorrow.

We'll bring you the latest on the heatwave throughout the day, with explainers and analysis from our team of journalists and weather colleagues.

Stay with us and do get in touch and let us know how you're dealing with this late burst of heat.