Britain records hottest day of year

Temperatures provisionally reached 38.1 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens, southwest London, on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year so far in Britain and the fifth hottest day on record, Britain's Met Office said. It was the second time this year that temperatures in the country had reached 38 degrees Celsius.

The only other year in which the threshold was reached twice was 2022, according to the Met Office. Thursday's reading surpassed the previous annual high recorded on June 26, Sky News reported. The Met Office has said that Britain is on course for its warmest summer since records began, the broadcaster reported.