Parts of the UK experienced the hottest day of 2012 so far on Saturday, and forecasters are predicting temperatures could rise even higher later.

Temperatures peaked at 32.4C (90.3F) in Cavendish in Suffolk but could rise even higher in London or East Anglia later, the BBC Weather Centre said.

However, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain across large parts of England.

Temperatures are expected to return to average August levels next week.

BBC forecaster Steve Cleaton said temperatures were likely to rise above 32C (89.6F) in north London or areas to the north east of the capital on Sunday.

“Large parts of the UK will experience another hot and humid day, but wetter conditions will feed up through south-west England and Wales. It will be a different story there.

“Across the Midlands, there will be torrential downpours with thunder and lightning mixed in, and even some hail,” he said.

Thundery downpours

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for parts of south-east Wales, the Midlands and into northern England, urging people to be prepared for isolated thundery downpours.

Between 20mm-25mm could fall, with the potential for problems with surface water, forecasters said.

Conditions north of the band of rain, in Northern Ireland and Scotland, are likely to remain largely dry and bright with cooler temperatures and a fresher feel.

Temperatures across much of the South East of England and East Anglia on Saturday were on a par with popular holiday destinations such as the Caribbean islands.

The hottest temperatures were in Suffolk. The village of Cavendish peaked at 32.4C (90.3F), Charsfield recorded 31.4C (88.5F) and Santon Downham basked in 31.3C (88.3F).

However, not all of the country had such high temperatures. Newquay, in Cornwall, only reached 18C, while Belfast registered 19C and Glasgow 20C.

Cardiff and Manchester reported temperatures of 21C and Carlisle is at 18C.

A weather front dividing the country marks the line between fresher weather to the north west of the UK and hotter, more humid weather to the south east.

The hot weather in south-east England is being fed by warm air coming up from mainland Europe.

The warmer parts of the UK were hotter on Saturday than such holiday destinations as Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, which was 29.8C.

It was also very hot in parts of France and Italy, with Paris experiencing highs of almost 39C and Florence 38C, while the Caribbean islands have registered temperatures of between 30C and 32C.

BBC