The United Kingdom recorded its warmest day of the year so far on Wednesday, with a high of 26.5°C (79.7°F) measured at Kew Gardens in south-west London. According to the Met Office, this is the hottest day recorded in the first half of April since 1946, making it one of the most notable April heat events in 80 years.
London's temperature exceeded those in popular holiday destinations such as Ibiza, Rome, and Marrakech, highlighting the intensity of the warm spell. The previous record for 2024 was set just a day earlier, with 24.8°C in Mona on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales.
Despite the heat, the Met Office clarified that this week's weather does not meet the official definition of a heatwave, which requires temperatures above regional thresholds for three consecutive days. The warm conditions have coincided with peak pollen season, with high levels of ash and birch pollen reported.
Meteorologist Tom Morgan noted that such high temperatures are uncommon for early April, but they represent a brief peak. Thursday is expected to bring rain and cooler, showery conditions moving south-east across the UK, ending the short-lived heat.
