Showers damp down London's hot spell
Parasols were replaced by umbrellas today when scorching heat and sunshine gave way to bursts of rain.
Londoners were caught in showers while heavy downpours fell on north west England, Wales and eastern and southern Scotland.
Forecasters also warned that average temperatures would replace yesterday's baking sunshine.
While parts of Britain look set to enjoy highs of around 28C (82.4F) today and tomorrow, it will feel noticeably cooler by Thursday, experts said.
Aisling Creevey, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Today will be another hot day, particularly in the South East.
"We are generally expecting temperatures of 28C, but might get little pockets of 29C (84.2F) and 30C (86F) in sheltered areas with low winds.
"By tonight it will be dry in most areas, with perhaps some misty conditions developing, particularly across northern areas.
"London will have temperatures of 15C (59F) or 16C (60.8F), and more widely it will be 12C (53.6F) and 14C (57.2F)."
Another warm day is expected tomorrow. Cloud and showers could hit northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales, but the South East is expected to enjoy temperatures of 27C (80.6F) and 28C (82.4F).
Ms Creevey added: "That day-time heat in the South East could spark off heavy showers locally, with possibly a few rumbles of thunder.
"We are looking at Thursday where everything is going to change.
"It will go from fine and settled to cloudy with bursts of rain and temperatures dropping to average. It will feel noticeably cooler - between 19C (66.2F) and 23C (73.4F)."
Yesterday, the mercury hit 28.1C (82.6F) in St James's Park and Kew Gardens in London, making it hotter than many holiday destinations.
Temperatures reached just 16C (60.8F) in Cape Town and 15C (59F) in Johannesburg. In Melbourne, the highest recorded temperature was 17C (62.6F) and in Sydney it was 22C (71.6F).
In Rio de Janeiro the mercury hit 24C (75.2F) and New York was only slightly warmer than London at 30C (86F).
