Kent is enjoying another heatwave after its hottest day of the year – while narrowly avoiding the storms that have swept the country.
Tens of thousands of beachgoers are expected to head to the county’s coast, where temperatures will be significantly cooler than inland.
It comes after the county had high temperatures reaching 30C yesterday, as Pride celebrations took place across Canterbury and motorists were stuck on the M2 for hours, following a crash horrible accident.
Thunder and 30C temperatures are forecast for much of the UK today, after parts of England and Scotland saw flooding and the hottest temperatures of the year yesterday. .
But Kent is expected to miss the severe weather currently sweeping in from the east according to the Met Office, which today issued a yellow rain and storm warning for much of the country.
Mercury temperatures in Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Canterbury are likely to hit 29 degrees Celsius today, while Folkestone, Ramsgate and Margate are set to be around 21 degrees.
The recent rise in temperatures – caused by a warm air inlet from the south – prompted the Meteorological Office to issue its first heat warning of the year last week.
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Traffic in Kent today is expected to be heavy in many sections, with the M2 now clear after a collision yesterday morning.
A seriously injured man was airlifted to a London hospital for treatment, while Junction 3 for Bluebell Hill and Junction 5 for Sitbourne and Maidstone were closed, but later closed. reopened around 7pm.
The crash happened as congestion worsened towards the coast and Canterbury – where around 25,000 people are expected to attend the Pride Festival.
Police said in a statement that the motorcyclist was taken to a specialist hospital in London in a critical condition.
Meanwhile, the Met Office said the county will experience “very warm or hot” weather through at least Thursday.
Today’s forecast is “Many dry spells with lots of sunshine. However, there is a risk of heavy rain or thunderstorms, which are most likely to occur in the western regions.
“Perhaps some low coastal clouds later. Feeling very warm or locally hot. The maximum temperature is 30°C,” according to meteorologists.
As the week develops, it will be “mostly dry during this period with often large amounts of sunshine.
The county’s seaside towns are now gearing up for a massive influx of visitors after 11 beaches won the Blue Flag Award – an internationally recognized mark of cleanliness.
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However, people are being advised not to swim in the sea at St Mary’s Bay in Romney Marsh because of poor water quality.
An Environment Agency (EA) spokesperson recently told KentOnline: “We continue to work with our partners to fully investigate the reasons for the declining quality of bathing water in St Mary’s Bay.
“Our advice for bathing is to advise that the public have access to the beach and the water for bathing remains open.”
