Revellers flocking to Isle of Wight Festival armed with bags of booze

Revellers flocking to Isle of Wight Festival armed with bags of booze and their tents baked in the sun while beaches were packed on Thursday as the mercury soared to 29C.

In the Isle of the Wight, where temperatures peaked at 27C, festival goers got in the party mood with the sun beating overhead.

Attendees were seen carrying suitcases in shorts and T-shirts to the festival while others were seen cracking open a beer to mark the beginning of the weekend.

Meanwhile, Britons were also seen soaking up the sunshine on Bournemouth beach in Dorset as the mini-heatwave continued for many.

However, the Met Office has said ‘a change is on the way for the UK weather towards the weekend, though temperatures will remain above average for the time of year’.

Friday will see a continuation of the dry and sunny conditions of recent days, with temperatures widely into the mid-20s Celsius, possibly peaking around 28C on Friday.

From Friday afternoon, the hint of an upcoming change in weather type is likely to affect western parts of Northern Ireland at first, with thundery showers likely and a possibility of some heavy bursts of rain, with around 25mm of rain possibly falling within an hour in some spots.

Whilst there is a chance of this risk extending into parts of Wales and perhaps the southwest of England on Friday afternoon the majority of these places will remain dry, though cloudier than recently.

The risk of more showers and perhaps some thunder does increase in these areas overnight and into Saturday however. There is then a trend to more showers and thunderstorms through the weekend.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates said: ‘Over the coming days we’ll be transitioning to a more unsettled regime for the UK, though temperatures will remain high and it’ll feel very humid for many.

‘Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to become more frequent through the weekend, with the potential for associated hail, lightning and some gusty winds.

‘While the focus of thundery showers on Friday afternoon will be Northern Ireland, that risk spreads more widely across western and southern areas of the UK on Saturday, before pushing further north on Sunday.

As in many of these situations, these showers can be hit or miss, with some places avoiding them whilst other areas nearby may see some very wet conditions.’

‘There’s an ongoing likelihood of warnings being issued in the coming days, so keep an eye on the weather forecast for the latest outlook.’

Earlier in the day, the Met Office had issued guidance that most of the UK has met heatwave criteria this week – which means locations have recorded a certain temperature (25C or above) for at least three consecutive days. 

Employers are now being urged to relax dress codes and allow staff to work at cooler times of the day to help them cope with the current heatwave.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said other measures include using blinds or reflective film on workplace windows to shade workers from the sun, and making sure there is plenty of drinking water.

HSE said the current temperatures for June, and the record-breaking temperatures reached last summer, show that helping workers during extreme heat must be a priority for employers.

According to the Met Office, some places across the UK have exceeded the heatwave threshold already this summer, with temperatures reaching above 30C (86F) for the first time in 2023. 

A heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies in each county. 

But it has been forecast that on Friday the UK will enjoy a short break from the heatwave and temperatures will fall below 24C (75F) in areas – hopefully bringing an end to the muggy evenings. 

Earlier this week the Mayor of London issued a high air pollution warning to those in the capital, the second of the year, caused by high temperatures and pollution being carried over from the continent.

Sadiq Khan asked people to do their part to stop themselves contributing to the pollution levels.

He said: ‘Pollution and heat can be a dangerous combination, which is why I’m urging Londoners to look after themselves and each other by choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport, avoid unnecessary car journeys, stop their engines idling and refrain from burning wood or garden waste, all of which contribute to high levels of pollution.

‘This is particularly important in order to protect those who are most vulnerable and help us to build a safer and greener London for all.’