Today is officially the hottest day of the year, with temperatures in many parts of England and Wales reaching above 30C (86F).
As hundreds of thousands of Brits bask in the sunshine, health authorities are urging the public to be careful in potentially "dangerous" heatwave conditions.
The hot weather is expected to stay well into next week with temperatures forecast to remain in the mid 20s.
An estimated 11 million motorists are planning to hit the road this weekend - with many heading to the seaside, parks, the south coast of England and other popular hotspots.
The RAC is boosting the number of patrol teams following a number of hot weather-related breakdowns.
Despite the brilliant weather and increased happiness among Brits brought on by warm weather, the warnings by health officials, weather experts and emergency services are serious.
The Met Office has issued level two alerts across most of England and has heightened the alert for Yorkshire and the Humber region to level three.
Temperature are expected to reach 32C (89.6F) in the south-east, with the majority in England and Wales seeing scorching temperatures in the very high 20s, low 30s.
"Heatwave's can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases", the Met Office said.
Public Health England are advising the public to stay safe by keeping out of the heat during the hottest time of the day, avoiding sunburn and staying hydrated.
The top temperature of the day will be around 3 - 4pm is likely to be in the west of London, a forecaster for Press Association's weather division said.
Emergency services across the UK are warning the public against the temptation of cooling down in open waters, after three people in the West Midlands died in the last week.
George Marshall, Group Commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has a stern warning for even the best of swimmers.
"The water may look enticing but even on a hot day it can be extremely cold, leading to a sudden cramp, and subject to strong currents which can catch out even the strongest of swimmers.
"There could also be obstacles and other debris hidden under the water which could trap or injure someone. Many pools and quarry lakes are also very deep and certainly not safe to swim in.
"Please think twice about going into open waters and if you must take a dip please do it in the safety of a public swimming where there are lifeguards on duty."
Sales figures at British supermarkets and retailers have gone through the roof as the UK public take advantage of this year's first sign of real summer.
Asda has seen a 204% increase in barbecue sales in the last two weeks, plus 176% increase on charcoal and fuel. Sales of garden furniture is up nearly 50 per cent (44%) and not surprisingly, the much-loved paddling pool saw sales rise by 446%.
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