Met Office declares hottest day of the year as 26C 'mini-heatwave' scorches Britain

The Met Office says today has been the hottest day of the year so far, as the forecast says 26C heat is on its way on Wednesday. This afternoon in Mona on the island of Anglesey, it reached 22.4C, with temperatures expected to rise throughout the day until they hit 25C - making it the hottest day of 2026.

However, it won't be long until this record is smashed as the Met Office forecasts temperatures of 26C tomorrow in southern areas of the UK. The north will be slightly cooler at 22C, it added. This will make Britain hotter than some popular European holiday hotspots, including Ibiza, Zante and Benidorm.

The Met Office forecast for the UK on Wednesday reads: "Plenty of very warm sunshine once again across much of England and Wales, with temperatures well above average. Mostly dry for Northern Ireland and Scotland though generally cloudier here."

Temperatures will then cool off slightly from Thursday, with areas in the south getting to 24C and 19C in the north, before dropping further on Friday.

The outlook for Thursday to Saturday reads: "Gradually turning wetter and windier across the north and west on Thursday. Likely staying warm and dry in the southeast. Colder, wetter and windier for all on Friday and Saturday."

The Met Office also offers some handy advice for staying cool and safe in the heat, such as staying out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and drinking plenty of water.

Look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated. Older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone are particularly at risk.

Stay cool indoors by closing curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler. Counterintuitively, closing doors and windows in the heat of the day can keep it cooler inside.