Netweather radar page says there is a technical issue and they are not receiving data, although it seems to be updating.

Now 33C on the thermostat in my home office. Heat pump outdoor sensor, which has been in the shade for a few hours now, reading 39C!

Interesting.

In July 1999 Southampton airport recorded 31°C on one day, but the Southampton (by the sea- or at least estuary) station in Mayflower Park managed just under 30.

The BBC (Then met office linked) publicly discredited the 31 on the grounds that the tarmac would make things hotter. True of course, but Heathrow has never come into question.

Incidentally, the location of the recording station in Mayflower Park contributed massively to its 1976 record, and with the wind quarter today, I reckon it might have approached 40; when Southampton had 35.6, the CET max was more than 5c lower.

You piqued my curiosity to look at the other readings for that day (June 26 1976)

Of the sites that are still around and recorded 34C+ that day...

Wisley hit 34.9 (beaten today)

Heathrow hit 34.8 (beaten today)

Kew hit 34.6 (probably beaten today, highest hourly was 34.5)

Santon Downham hit 34.6 (not beaten today)

Alice Holt hit 34.2 (beaten today)

Thorney Island hit 34.1 (beaten today)

Cambridge BG hit 34.0C (probably not beaten today)

Except in the east, it was hotter today pretty much everywhere it seems.

BTW the Southampton Oceanographic Centre just hit 36.3, although that is not an official site.

https://pondtailweather.com/selectachart.htm 

We can't be far off a June record for Wales, too - 33C at Cardiff, the record is 33.7C I believe.

Wasnt the second runway supposed to be here, its been talked about for years. 

36.3C there now, which suggests that we could see a few tenths higher than that when the full data is used.

No, they want to use the current emergency runway and move them slightly within the current airport footprint I think. Anyway that's well off topic...

Sorry, can't seem to do the proper quote thing on the phone

Cardiff hit 33.3c today - Usk No.2 might come in higher later.

Until tomorrow maybe?

Then Friday keeps the heat out East with a 39c over East Anglia.

Keeps the possibility of an all time record alive.

Still sat at 34.1 and 39c real feel, going to be a hot one tonight, odds on for my first >20+ min I would guess.

...and Sheppey. I'm continuing to dread Friday and I've a nagging feeling the highest temperatures of the whole spell will be recorded on that day, somewhere in East Anglia. We'll see.

And Burgundy isn't even in the core of the heat. But it will be by the weekend. I can expect at least 3 more days at or above 40C there, possibly 4 more.

According to the gardener, most 2026 planted shrubs are nearly dead.

Feels like you could cut the air into slices.

Not sure my temp sensor is great in direct sun so it's probably an overstatement but topped out at 37.3c. Fun for some but I very much don't enjoy it. 

Looks like 3 more days of unpleasantness before something more bearable on Sunday. As others have mentioned Friday looks like peak heat day in this part of the world, so may well record higher than today!