Monday was declared the hottest day of the year so far in England, with temperatures reaching 32.4°C (92.8°F) in Wisley, Surrey, and up to 34°C (93°F) expected in parts of the country.

According to the Met Office, higher temperatures will be confined to central and southern England, with yellow heat warnings in place for millions of people.

Others experienced a wetter start to the day, while further north there was torrential rain, for which a yellow thunderstorm warning was in place, which has since expired.

Meteorologists said the current heatwave would peak on Monday, but temperatures would drop again later in the week.

The warmest weather was forecast for London, East Anglia and the Home Counties.

Already on Monday afternoon, temperatures in the capital were above 30 degrees.

Yellow heat warnings from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) apply to the East and West Midlands, the east of England, the south-east and south-west, the north-west and London.

Its validity expires on Wednesday morning.

The yellow warning is issued during heat waves that are likely to affect only those particularly at risk, such as the elderly or people with pre-existing medical conditions.

The current hottest day of 2024 was July 30, when temperatures at Kew Gardens and Heathrow – both in London – reached 32 °C.

The Met Office said it was unlikely that temperatures would exceed 40.3°C recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, last July – the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK.

“Today is likely to be the hottest day of 2024 so far, with a heatwave from the south bringing very hot and humid weather to much of England and Wales,” Met Office spokeswoman Andrea Bishop told BBC News.

“Temperatures are likely to reach 34°C in some places in the south-east of England, but temperatures in the north and west of the UK will be much closer to average.”

The weather service recommends keeping the curtains closed at lunchtime and drinking plenty of water.

It was previously confirmed that a child had died after being pulled out of a canal in Wolverhampton on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said emergency services found a boy in a critical condition. “Despite all efforts, the child could not be saved and his death was pronounced at the scene.”

The RAC urged drivers to check the coolant and oil levels in their vehicles as high temperatures increase the risk of vehicle breakdowns and cars overheating.

Meanwhile, National Rail also issued advice and asked passengers travelling on Monday to check their journeys in good time – but not because of the heat.

The Met Office “has issued yellow weather warnings for rain and thunderstorms across parts of the UK today,” a post on X said. It also said: “Please check your journeys with National Rail or your train operator before travelling.”

Parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England were hit by heavy rain earlier in the day.

“More than 15,000 lightning strikes have been recorded in the UK in the last 24 hours, mainly over Northern Ireland and northern Scotland,” said Ms Bishop of the UK Met Office.

“Thunderstorms are also possible elsewhere in England this afternoon.”

Thunderstorms are most common during the summer months because hot, humid air adds more energy to the atmosphere.