BRITS were left sweltering in heat hotter than MEXICO today as temperatures soared over 32C.
The mercury smashed early summer records for the third day in a row, marking the hottest day of the year so far.
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The Met Office said the heat swelled to a blistering 32.7C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, while Heathrow saw highs of 32.4C this afternoon.
Sunseekers in Norwich baked in 32C heat, while the scorcher reached 31C in Birmingham, 29C in Southampton, and 27C in Cardiff.
It means burning Britain is hotter than MEXICO where the measly weather is sitting at 17C.
The sun trap is also putting parts of Jamaica and the Maldives to shame, where the mercury won’t climb above 31C.
It’s all thanks to high pressure and roasting 40C air being dragged in from Spain and Portugal.
But the good weather won’t last long, with outbreaks of heavy rain and a risk of thunder set to kick in from Saturday.
Swarms of Brits hoping to catch some rays are sitting in standstill on UK motorways as the heatwave sends the country’s roads into chaos.
About 50,000 have flooded the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, with some families arriving at sunrise to secure their spots on the sand ahead of the heatwave.
Traffic to the resort queued up for nine miles along the A31 and A338 and the local council issued a warning at 11 this morning that all seafront car parks were already completely full.
Queues to get an ice cream are at least 20 minutes long and 3,000 deckchairs and 1,200 sun loungers have been rented out.
Over the weekend more than 100,000 people are expecting to pay that stretch of coast a visit and most of the resort’s 30,000 hotel rooms are already full.
Elsewhere, the heat could break another record at Royal Ascot where Brits will be dressed up for the famous races.
Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “One thing we are keeping an eye on is Royal Ascot.
“The highest maximum temperature we’ve had on a day is 32.8 degrees, which is taken from a nearby station in Reading near Royal Ascot.”
That temperature was recorded on June 21 2017.
He added: “It’s looking like it could be around 31 degrees in Reading today, but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of it perhaps rising into 32, and then obviously getting closer to that record, but it’s something that might be quite close to being the hottest Royal Ascot on record.”
Predicted high temperatures have meant men in all enclosures at Ascot were allowed to remove their jackets and ties once the traditional royal carriage procession had ended.
Motor experts warned Brits to keep safe while driving in hot weather on the roads and to carry out simple checks on their car before a long journey to avoid even more queues.
Rail networks could also be affected by the hot weather, as train services suffer in the heat.
Network Rail warned services may experience delays and disruption on Friday because of the heat, which can cause overhead wires to sag and the steel rails to buckle, and advises citizens to check before they travel.
“We can’t change the weather, but it can change your plans,” the organisation said on its website.
The warm weather has pushed the Met Office to issue a Level 3 Heat Health Alert amid the “rare climate change event”.
It warns of the increased risk to the vulnerable in the blazing sun.
Forecasters said: “Look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions.
“Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.
“Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather and slow down when it is hot.”
But after the record-breaking day, things will come crashing down overnight.
Thunderstorms are set to sweep in across Saturday and Sunday, with torrential downpours worst in the far south.
Scotland and Northern Ireland will also be hit by “unseasonably windy weather” with some risk of coastal gales.
Saturday should hang on to the best of the weather with temperatures dropping on Sunday.
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