UK weather: Today could be hottest day of the year as temperatures predicted to reach 27C

Parts of the south-east could be hotter than Portugal, Turkey and Spain

People relax in deckchairs on Brighton Pier in Brighton, on the south coast during hot weather on July 20th, 2013. Britain has been experiencing hot weather this month, with forecasters saying it is in the midst of its first prolonged heatwave since 2006, (WILL OLIVER/AFP/Getty Images)

Today could be the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures expected to reach 27C and over, hotter than Portugal, Turkey and Spain.

The London and Essex area could see the hottest weather of 2014. By late morning, the temperature in London had reached nearly 25C with the Met Office saying the year-so-far high could be reached later in the day.

British hopes for Wimbledon might be down the drain after Andy Murray's shock defeat on Wednesday, but tennis fans looking forward to day 11 of the action at the All England club can be consoled with a dry, warm day.

Predictions of 27C mean parts of England will be warmer than Faro in Portugal, a degree warmer than Barcelona in Spain, and much hotter than Istanbul in Turkey where a high of 24C is expected.

There was a disparity in reports for northern England, parts of Wales and Northern Ireland, who were told to expect patchy rain and showers.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Generally, we could see places hit 25C, 26C, maybe 27C. The warmest day of the year so far was 27.0C in Cupar, Fife on the 18 June.

“Even 27.1C would be the warmest temperature of the year so far, which we could see in areas of the south east such as London Essex and Kent.

“On Friday, we could see warm temperatures and 27C is again possible, while nice weather can be expected in the east and south eastern corner."