Was Thursday the UK's hottest day on record?
Thursday was the UK's hottest July day on record, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F) in Cambridge.
While the Met Office says we can be sure it's the second hottest, it won't be able to confirm what is apparently its highest reading until next week.
Provisional figures released on Friday revealed a peak of 38.7C at Cambridge University's Botanic Gardens. If verified, that squeaks past the UK all-time high of 38.5C, reached in 2003.
Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office, explained any reading that challenges the all-time record should be carefully vetted.
He says each of the UK's weather observation stations is checked over every two years to make sure everything is still in good working order.
"Thermometers should be in shade and in ventilation," he said.
"The last time that the [Cambridge University's Botanic Gardens] site had this check was the end of 2017.
Provisional figures released on Friday revealed a peak of 38.7C at Cambridge University's Botanic Gardens. If verified, that squeaks past the UK all-time high of 38.5C, reached in 2003.
Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office, explained any reading that challenges the all-time record should be carefully vetted.
He says each of the UK's weather observation stations is checked over every two years to make sure everything is still in good working order.
"Thermometers should be in shade and in ventilation," he said.
"The last time that the [Cambridge University's Botanic Gardens] site had this check was the end of 2017.
