Britain bakes during the hottest day of the year ... but rain is on the way

It might have been a different country, never mind a different month. Just two weeks ago, the River Greta in County Durham was in full flow and stormy clouds gathered ominously in the background. But yesterday, on the hottest day of the year, the watercourse was transformed into a sunbaked ditch, with just the odd puddle to trouble crossing walkers.






Where's the water gone? A walker fords the dry bed of River Greta in County Durham, yesterday, without needing to wear his willies




Grey clouds gathered above the river in full flow on June 19. Weak sunshine was the only evidence of summer





But Britain wouldn't be Britain if yesterday's heatwave had come to stay. Where blue skies dominated the skyline throughout the country already this morning, clouds were gathering ominously.



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Forecasters predict that our recent good weather is set to break today with rain showers predicted across much of the country. A Met Office spokesman said: ' Yesterday a new record for 2008 was set in London at 28.1C. 'But the bad news is that this heatwave is just a one- day wonder. Forget the beach, the rain is coming - and it is set to last all weekend.'

At 28.1C (82F) yesterday, London was hotter than many parts of Africa, California and the Mediterranean. In Barcelona it was 27C (81F) and Los Angeles 24C (75F). And at Wimbledon, the drizzly memory of last year's tournament evaporated in the heat. Then, after the wettest June on record, July had begun with a similar blitz and Britain reeled from a week of torrential rain, floods and gale-force winds. The All England Club was forced to pay out £1million in ticket refunds as play was ruined.






Making the most: Students in Southsea, Hampshire, bask in the sun yesterday




A cheeky squirrel takes a lick from a tourist's ice cream





Scotland and Northern parts of England will have some scattered sunshine, but the South-East will be subjected to some short, sharp thunderstorms. Temperatures will tumble back to the average for July of 21C (70F), before falling further at the weekend when further deluges are expected.

For the rest of this week, the damp weather is set to continue as temperatures drop to 19C (66F) tomorrow. There will be showers on Friday and Saturday is set to be very wet for most of us. On Sunday the rain will continue with temperatures of 18C (64F).





Two rowers struggle in the heat on the River Wey, Guildford






A couple makes the most of the sunny weather on Seaburn Beach in Sunderland




A girl enjoys punting on the river Cam in Cambridge



This Sunderland beach looks like it belongs in Greece




Girls cool off in the surf as the sun blazes down




Lunch break Office workers at Broadgate Circle in the City Of London which was astro-turfed and given a giant screen so people could watch Wimbledon

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