HOTTING UP
UK weather: Thousands flock to beaches & parks with temperatures to soar to 30C
Watch the full forecast in the video above
THOUSANDS of Brits flocked to beaches and parks today as the mercury is set to soar to 30°C in just days.
From tomorrow forecasters have warned of a likely rise in temperature across the UK until Saturday.
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Yellow heat health alerts have been issued for most of southern and eastern England.
The warning means there will be an "increase in risk of mortality amongst vulnerable individuals".
OAPs and people with health conditions are most at risk but young people could also suffer in the heat.
The warning does not apply to the South West and North with those are remaining on green alert.
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By Friday temperatures in London and the South East could reach 30°C before milder conditions return on Sunday.
The hot weather comes after well above-average rainfall figures in the first half of the month including a weather warning for rain on Tuesday evening.
Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said nighttime temperatures could stay in the low 20s for parts of Southeast England.
These would be classed as "tropical nights" if they don't drop below 20°C and will pose more health risks for the elderly and vulnerable.
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Nicole added that she was uncertain when the milder conditions would arrive but claimed that the Southeast would likely retain its heat longer than other parts of the country.
Some areas of the UK have already exceeded July's average rainfall figures despite being only halfway through the month.
Yellow heat health alerts issued by Met Office for most of England with temperatures set to hit 30C in just days
The Met Office spokesperson revealed England had 97 per cent of July's average rainfall between July 1 and 15, Wales had 65 per cent, Scotland 49 per cent and Northern Ireland 47 per cent.
London has already had 154 per cent of its July average, Dorset clocked 120 per cent and Edinburgh has only had 40 per cent.
Nicole said: "There are quite big regional differences but overall it's looking like a wet month so far.
"There is a caveat that, with a dry couple of weeks, by the end of the month things could even themselves out."
Much of the July total rainfall came down in two or three heavy downpours rather than a prolonged period of wet weather.
Meanwhile a funnel cloud, which looked like a tornado, was captured on film by a mother and daughter in Cornwall.
The pair spotted the cloud formation above their neighbour's house before filming the weather phenomenon.
Fortunately for the locals, funnel clouds aren't destructive.
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The Met Office said: "Crucially, a funnel cloud does not reach the earth's surface, at the point it reaches land it becomes a tornado, or if it reaches a body of water it becomes a waterspout.
"In a typical year, the UK sees around 30-35 tornadoes each year, though it is very rare that are they strong enough to cause any significant damage."
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This week's Met Office forecast
Today:
Any remaining showers across northeast Scotland soon fade with most places seeing a fine and dry day with decent amounts of sunshine and just an isolated afternoon shower.
Skies clouding over from the northwest later. Feeling warm in the sunshine.
Tonight:
Plenty of evening sunshine before a mostly dry night. Cloud increasing from the northwest with outbreaks of rain across Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
Thursday:
Outbreaks of rain across Northern Ireland and western Scotland easing through the day.
Largely dry with sunny spells elsewhere, feeling very warm in the sunshine.
Friday to Sunday:
Mostly dry and very warm or hot on Friday. Thundery showers on Saturday and likely remain hot in the east or southeast.
Cooler, cloudier with some rain likely on Sunday.
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