by Mark Davison
The Met office said this afternoon that provisional figures from weather stations at Charlwood and Heathrow Airport suggest that temperatures have risen above 33.0 C (91F) this afternoon.
If confirmed, this would mean that today has been the hottest day of 2013 so far.
The previous highest temperature of 32.2 C (90F) was recorded at Hampton Water Works, Middlesex, on Wednesday July 17.
Weatherman Ian Currie said that his weather station in Rickman Hill, above the Chipstead Valley, recorded 33.4C at just before 4pm this afternoon and he expected an even higher reading from his other weather station in Outwood Lane, Chipstead, once observations had been made.
Reigate Grammar School's automatic weather station recorded 33.0c at 3.15pm.
Though blisteringly hot, the readings fall short of the all-time record of 37.5C (99F) recorded at Chipstead in August 2003 – the day in which 38.5C (101.5F) was measured at Brogdale Fruit Farm, near Faversham, Kent.
That scorching day, a cedar tree collapsed in the heat at London Road, Reigate, as sap expanded and exploded in the branches. One bough crashed down, trapping pensioners in a car.
