Wales weather: Hottest day of the year draws out crowds

Crowds have headed to beaches, parks and beauty spots in Wales on the hottest day of the year so far.

On Friday temperatures hit 28C (82.4F) in some areas, with Monmouthshire, Cardiff and Flintshire the hottest.

However, it has not been hot everywhere, with highs of 17C (63C) in the west and north west, where there has been a lot more cloud.

Warnings have been made about the dangers of cooling off in reservoirs to those staying inland.

• Stereophonics and Sir Tom Jones Cardiff concert

• Welsh weather: Heat waves from the archives

In the capital, about 60,000 concert-goers enjoyed the sunshine as they arrived for the Cardiff concert featuring Stereophonics and Tom Jones.

Speaking earlier to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Marco Zeraschi, who runs Marco's Cafe in Barry, said: "It's going to go bonkers down here today, because it's the first really hot day of the season and all the Covid restrictions are lifted."

Llandegfedd Reservoir on Friday got the thumbs up from this group of friends

He believes Barry Island has become an "all-year-round resort", partly thanks to the success of hit television show Gavin and Stacey, in which his cafe features.

"It takes a bit of the pressure off, but we still rely on the summer," he said.

An ice cream on Penarth pier in the Vale of Glamorgan

BBC Wales weather presenter Sabrina Lee said while the heat and humidity were the talking points of the day, they would not last.

Light rain is expected overnight and over the weekend there is a chance of thundery downpours and localised flooding.

As temperatures soared on Friday, Hafren Dyfrdwy, the company which runs Lake Vyrnwy and Llyn Clywedog in Powys, warned about the dangers of cooling off in the water.

Families have also been enjoying the sunshine at Llandegfedd Reservoir

The company's Dan Taberner said reservoirs can be dangerous places to swim because of strong currents, freezing temperatures and "hidden dangers under the surface".

He added: "We know how tempting reservoirs can look in the warm weather, but we don't have lifeguards on site or safe swimming areas, so we'd ask visitors to not take that risk."

Kevin Burt of Welsh Water said: "We want people to visit, to enjoy the water and around the water but we are really concerned that people understand that swimming in reservoirs unauthorised is a really dangerous thing to do."

So what have been Wales' hottest days on record - and where?

• 2 August 1990 - Hawarden Bridge reached 35.2C

• 3 August 1990 - Crossway 34.6C

• 19 July 2006 - Gogerdan 34.6C

• 3 July 1976 - Usk 33.6C

• 1 August 1995 - Cardiff Weather Centre 33.5C

• 28 June 1976 - Usk 33.5C

• 12 August 2020 - Usk 33.5C

• 2 July 1976 - Port Talbot 33.2C

• 13 July 1983 - Cardiff Weather Centre 33.1C

• 28 June 2018 - Porthmadog 33.0C