Enjoy the sun – while it lasts

Monday 27th June 2011, 1:35PM BST.

Jacqueune Riepl, from Austria, who is on work expericene at Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom at Preston Upon the Wealdmoors, near Donnington, cools down Gertrude, a Middlewhite pig during the sunny weather.

Shropshire was basking in soaring temperatures today, but forecasters warned thunderstorms could bring the short-lived heatwave to an abrupt end. Residents woke to a blue, cloudless sky with temperatures due to reach 27C (80F) this afternoon.

Temperatures were expected to hit 31C (88F) in other parts of the country, beating the highs of 28C (82F) which made yesterday the hottest day of the year so far. But by this evening the hot weather could be broken by thunder and showers.

Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster at Meteo-Group, said: “Much of England will be hot and humid again. We’re looking at highs reaching about 31C (88F) in the London area. But there is the chance of scattered thundery showers developing, and there could be local downpours where they occur.”

Forecasters at Shawbury weather station said the temperature would peak this afternoon before the heavy showers arrive.

But Mr Ratcliffe said that some areas would be cooler than they were yesterday, saying rain will move from southern and eastern Scotland into northern England and Wales by the end of the day.

He added: “Tomorrow we will see the remaining hot and humid conditions clearing to leave all areas fresher for the rest of the week, with scattered showers.”

View more: RAF Shawbury news.