Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleHeavy rain and lightning affected the UK overnight, with multiple thunderstorm warnings remaining active across the country on Friday morning. The Met Office predicts an "exceptional spell of hot and humid weather" to persist in the southeast, potentially breaking the record for the hottest June day once more. Temperatures are forecast to reach 40C in parts of Norfolk this afternoon, which would surpass yesterday's record of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset. A rare red warning for extreme heat is in effect until 9pm for London, the South East, and the East of England, with high humidity expected to worsen discomfort and health impacts. The severe weather prompted at least three hospitals, including Queen Alexandra Hospital and University Hospital Southampton, to declare critical incidents, resulting in equipment malfunctions like MRI scanners failing and some operations being cancelled. In fullUK heatwave live: Thunderstorms hit Britain as record for June’s hottest day could be broken againThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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The Met Office has issued a rare red "extreme heat" warning for parts of central and south England and Wales, for Wednesday and Thursday. | World News

A temperature of 36.1C at Gosport in Hampshire was recorded on Wednesday

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Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe red weather warning for extreme heat has…

Parts of England are forecast to reach 38°C on Thursday and Friday as the Met Office extends red warning for extreme heat

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe Met Office’s chief meteorologist has…

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe UK recorded its hottest June day on…

Temperatures in the UK hit another record high today - reaching 36.4C and breaking Wednesday’s record for the hottest ever June day.

Today is also a record-breaking third consecutive day of red extreme heat warnings and follows spectacular lightning displays as thunderstorms hit the UK overnight.

A high of 40C is forecast in the southeast of England on Friday

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The 36. 9C record temperature was chalked in Wattisham, Suffolk, in southeast England, the meteorologists said, breaking the previous high of 36. 7C set on Thursday.