So much for social distancing! Thousands swarm to beaches and beauty spots as 91F Britain swelters on hottest day of the year so far and vets warn it is too hot for walking a dog - with thunderstorms and rain on way tonight
Brits have defied social distancing by flocking to beaches on the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures soared to 91F and vets warned dog owners against walking their pets in the summer heat.
The mercury sky-rocketed as people crowded together on packed beaches and at beauty spots - but thunderstorms and rain are set to lash the country from tomorrow night.
London Heathrow hit 90.5F (32.5C) at 3pm this afternoon, the first time the temperature has gone above 90F in 2020. The warmest day so far is still May 29 when Dawyck in the Scottish Borders got up to 84F (28.9C).
There is also a chance of temperatures hitting a June record, which is currently 96.08F (35.6C) in Southampton on June 28, 1976. A Level 3 heat alert has been issued as shoppers are warned long queues in the sun may cause heatstroke.
There was a distinct absence of social distancing on British beaches today, just 24-hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the social distancing rule is being halved from two metres to 'one metre plus' to allow businesses to open for more customers from July 4.
Britain today announced 154 more deaths and just 653 coronavirus cases, in the lowest daily jump for more than three months as the outbreak continues to fizzle out.
Meanwhile, sunseekers have been advised to take advantage of the heatwave while they can as thunderstorms are expected to hit on Thursday night, bringing torrential downpours.
Euan Kogan, 31, made a 200-mile round trip from London to spend the day at the beach. He said: ‘I work for Marks & Spencer but my store is closed. The sunshine is amazing. This is much better than being stuck inside.’
Others were concerned about the lack of social distancing. Teacher Aaron Clegg, 37, said: ‘I am a bit on edge because of the amount of people. It seems like a second wave is inevitable.’
Problems on the same scale were not seen further north. The weather was also stunning in Scarborough, where fewer day-trippers meant social distancing was being largely adhered to.
The Met Office has issued a thunderstorm warning for the west of the country on Friday and forecasts 1.6in (40mm) of rain in two hours - along with lightning, hail, strong winds causing possible power cuts and flooding.
They also issued a level three weather warning due to the heatwave on Wednesday, as health authorities encouraged those most vulnerable - many of whom have been shielding during the lockdown - to protect themselves amid the 'exceptionally hot' weather.
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