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People soak up the sun on hottest day of the year - but storms may be coming
Claire Shelton and baby Lyra enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
People across the county flocked to parks and beaches to bask in the sunshine on the hottest day of the year - but thunderstorms may be on the way.
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
Figures from the Met Office showed temperatures in Norfolk soared to up 32C on Friday as the UK had the third hottest day on record.
In the county, the hot weather has caused problems for trains, with services suspended between Cromer and Sheringham and cancellations between Norwich and Great Yarmouth.
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
Meanwhile, in West Norfolk there were reports of queues of up to 10 miles as people drove to the coast.
Firefighters were also called out to two grass fires in Brooke and Thieves’ Bridge Road in Watlington.
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
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A yellow weather warning is in place for the region from 4pm to midnight.
READ MORE: Weather warning for thunderstorms as temperatures soar The warning says most places will stay dry by “isolated thunderstorms may cause some travel disruption.”
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
It added there may be some damage to a few buildings and structures due to lightning strikes and warned there may be a short term loss of power.
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The warning said: “Some flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible. There is a small chance that driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.”
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
The weekend, however, is set to be slightly cooler across the county, though still hot with highs of 27C forecast on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the mercury hit 37.8C at London’s Heathrow Airport at 2.41pm and also reached 37.3C at Kew Gardens, in west London, the Met Office said.
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
Forecaster Simon Partridge said: “This not only makes it the warmest day of the year, it also makes it the third hottest UK day on record.”
Simonne Edwards and Katie Cox enjoying the hot weather in Chapelfield Gardens. Picture: KATE WOLSTENHOLME - Credit: KATE WOLSTENHOLME
The current temperature record was registered at 38.7C at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens last year, while the second hottest day was August, 10 2003, when the mercury rose to 38.5C in Faversham, Kent.
The UK has already surpassed 100pc of the average monthly rainfall and only experienced two thirds (66pc) of the expected sunshine for an average July, a total of 113.4 hours, Met Office figures show.
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Elliot Lewandowski, three, runs through the sea at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Seagulls on the hottest day social distancing until a wave hits. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
Lowestoft beach was 'very busy' on the hottest day of the year. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
A seagull at Children's Corner in Lowestoft as the crowds flocked to the beach on the hottest day of the year. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
Charmaine Mayne, Megan Mayne, 10, Charmaine Llewellyn and Eddie Mayne at Pinky�s ice cream parlour in Lowestoft on the hottest day of the year. They are also part of the family involved as the new owners of Claremont Pier in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
Michael Manning, 11, who is helping out his family who are the new management team at Claremont Pier in Lowestoft on the hottest day of the year. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
Crowds flocked to Lowestoft on the hottest day of the year. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
Gill Langman and Tersha Turnball, shop assistants at Beaches And Cream, on the hottest day of the year. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
Chris, Maggie, Joseph and Annelise Perry, from Kent, enjoyed their staycation break in Lowestoft on the hottest day of the year. Picture: Mick Howes - Credit: Archant
