Sunlovers were told to soak up Britain's heatwave today - because it's not set to last.
After several days of rain and falling temperatures, the nation baked in sizzling sunshine which sent the mercury rocketing.
But Friday is expected to be cooler, with some scattered showers.
At lunchtime, with a few hours to go before entering the hottest part of the day, Meteogroup, the Press Association's weather division, recorded a maximum temperature of 31C (87.8F) at London City Airport.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW:
Swathes of south-east England recorded temperatures in the high twenties and 30C (86F) was recorded at Coventry Airport and Cranfield, Bedfordshire.
The Met Office said London's maximum temperature today could reach 33C (91.4F) coming close to equalling the hottest day of the year which was just over a week ago on July 22 when the 33.5C (92.3F) peak was a seven-year high.
Today's UK temperatures - which were hotter than Barcelona, Cape Town, Mumbai and Venice - prompted bookies to offer odds that August would be a record breaker.
Ladbrokes offered 8/1 that August's hottest temperature will surpass our hottest August from 2003.
A decade ago that was 38.5C (101.3F) on August 10 2003.
Jessica Bridge, of Ladbrokes, said: "The second heatwave of the summer is in full swing and the odds suggest we're in for another scorcher.
"The faster the temperatures rise the quicker the odds will drop when it comes to breaking weather records."