Temperatures broke through the 100°F mark yesterday, making it the hottest day since records began.
The record temperature of 100.2°F, or 37.9°C, was measured at 2.56pm at Heathrow, breaking the previous record set at Cheltenham 13 years ago. It made Barbados look cool at 84°F and Rio de Janeiro positively Arctic at 64°F.
Bookmakers face paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds to punters who bet on temperatures soaring to record levels.
The total sum is likely to be around £500,000 after people put money on the heat hitting 99°F and 100°F, according to Graham Sharpe, of bookmakers William Hill.
He said the company would have to pay out up to £250,000, adding that the new temperature record made it "a bad day for bookies".
Michael Dukes, of PA WeatherCentre, said summer temperatures had risen over the last 30 years and there would be more heatwaves in future.
But he said global warming would not mean an instant end to the traditional British rainy summer.
"Heatwaves are becoming more and more frequent in summer. But we have had some very average summers recently," he said.
The heatwave is expected to renew a vigorous debate on global warming this week, with experts lining up to present it as compelling evidence of climate change and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Among its more surprising manifestations were unofficial sightings of a great white shark in waters off Cornwall - hitherto reg-arded as too far north and too cold for great whites.
Forecasters say there will be a slight cooling over the next few days - but only into the high 20s.
Despite reports of one Spanish family returning home early because Britain was "too hot", the heatwave was regarded as a welcome boost to the tourism industry. This now generates £76bn a year, making it the country's sixth largest industry employing 1.8m, according to weekend figures from the VisitBritain agency. It contributes more than agriculture, financial services, public administration or transport.
Not that Britons appear to be getting as much time as their continental counterparts to enjoy the heatwave. Research published today shows they receive less paid holiday than any other country in the European Union.
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The record temperature of 100.2°F, or 37.9°C, was measured at 2.56pm at Heathrow, breaking the previous record set at Cheltenham 13 years ago. It made Barbados look cool at 84°F and Rio de Janeiro positively Arctic at 64°F.
Bookmakers face paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds to punters who bet on temperatures soaring to record levels.
The total sum is likely to be around £500,000 after people put money on the heat hitting 99°F and 100°F, according to Graham Sharpe, of bookmakers William Hill.
He said the company would have to pay out up to £250,000, adding that the new temperature record made it "a bad day for bookies".
Michael Dukes, of PA WeatherCentre, said summer temperatures had risen over the last 30 years and there would be more heatwaves in future.
But he said global warming would not mean an instant end to the traditional British rainy summer.
"Heatwaves are becoming more and more frequent in summer. But we have had some very average summers recently," he said.
The heatwave is expected to renew a vigorous debate on global warming this week, with experts lining up to present it as compelling evidence of climate change and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Among its more surprising manifestations were unofficial sightings of a great white shark in waters off Cornwall - hitherto reg-arded as too far north and too cold for great whites.
Forecasters say there will be a slight cooling over the next few days - but only into the high 20s.
Despite reports of one Spanish family returning home early because Britain was "too hot", the heatwave was regarded as a welcome boost to the tourism industry. This now generates £76bn a year, making it the country's sixth largest industry employing 1.8m, according to weekend figures from the VisitBritain agency. It contributes more than agriculture, financial services, public administration or transport.
Not that Britons appear to be getting as much time as their continental counterparts to enjoy the heatwave. Research published today shows they receive less paid holiday than any other country in the European Union.
!
