Met Office declares ‘hottest day of year’ – but record to be smashed in 24 hours

Met Office declares ‘hottest day of year’ – but record to be smashed in 24 hoursThe Met Office says today has been the hottest day of the year so far, but weather forecasters expect tomorrow to be even warmer as temperatures could hit 26CCommentsNewsEthan Blackshaw Deputy Publishing Lead14:32, 07 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesTemperatures surged well above the seasonal average today, anomaly maps show(Image: WXCHARTS)Met Office weather forecasters have declared today to be the hottest day of the year so far - but the record looks set to be smashed again in just 24 hours.‌The previous hottest day of the year came on March 18 when the mercury surged to 20.9C in Gogerddan, Wales. Before that the record stood at 19.2C, which was clocked on March 5 in London.‌However, temperatures today blew those records out of the water. The Met Office said this afternoon the mercury rose to 22.4C in Mona, on the island of Anglesey. Temperatures will continue to rise through the day and may reach 25C, according to the forecasting body. And conditions are expected to be even warmer tomorrow as Brits swelter in the heat.‌View 2 ImagesTemperature anomaly map for 3pm on Wednesday(Image: WXCHARTS)READ MORE: Met Office maps show 25 areas hotter than Ibiza as UK roasts in 26C on WednesdayREAD MORE: UK weather maps show 27 counties in heat surge as Met Office predicts 24C – listThe Met Office’s weather forecast this morning said temperatures could rise as high as 26C in southern areas tomorrow. The mercury could rise to 22C in the north, it added.That would make the UK hotter than several holiday hotspots across Europe. Temperatures are only expected to hit 19C in Ibiza, 21C in Zante and 24C in Benidorm.‌Temperature anomaly maps show the mercury is expected to rise well over the seasonal average on Wednesday. Areas of deep red on the maps show where temperatures will be well above what is expected for the start of April.Conditions are expected to cool off from Thursday, before dropping off significantl...