Can YOU tell Dorset from the Dominican Republic? Sunlovers compare British beauty spots to Caribbean beaches as nation swelters in 95F heat
- Stunning photos show Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly have taken on an almost tropical aspect
- And it’s not all appearances, with temperatures expected to be hotter than Jamaica and Barbados today
- Met Office amber warning for extreme heat is in place for much of England and Wales until Sunday
Months of balmy summer weather has left parts of Britain resembling the Caribbean – with Twitter users sharing a series of stunning coastal scenes.
Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly may be classic British holiday destinations, but bright blue skies and shimmering sun have given them an almost tropical aspect.
And it’s not all appearances, with temperatures of 35C (96F) expected in parts of southern England today making it hotter than holiday hotspots Jamaica and Barbados.
The new weather update will follow a four-day amber warning for extreme heat from the Met Office that is in place for much of England and Wales until Sunday, with warnings of health impacts and disruption to travel.
Which one’s which? Surfers on a beach during a tropical sunset (left) and a strikingly similar scene in Newquay, Cornwall (right)
The Isles of Scilly may be classic British holiday destinations, but bright blue skies and shimmering sun have given them an almost tropical aspect (right). Left: An exotic beach on the Caribbean Sea
Shaldon in Devon (right) contrasted with a scene of boats anchored in the shimmering seas around the Caribbean island of St Barts
St Ives (right) and an aerial view of jet ski and boat sailing next to beach of Stoking Island, Great Exuma, Bahamas (left)
Warm weather and humidity is expected to endure throughout the weekend, with the mercury widely topping 30C (86F).
Early risers were pictured getting their exercise done well before the heat soars, and beachgoers planning to beat the rush started piling onto Bournemouth’s famous seascape early on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, overnight campers, some pictured with their toothbrushes and toothpaste, risked the wrath of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council – and a £1,000 fine – by ignoring rules and pitching up their tents yesterday evening so they could grab the best spots today.
In the southwest, hot air balloon fanatics at the Bristol Balloon Festival were finally given the go-ahead to ascend at around 6am on Friday, leaving them to enjoy a marvellous view of the city thousands of feet above the ground.
The trend for sharing photos of ‘topical-looking’ Britain was started by BBC meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker.
But the hot weather hasn’t all been plain sailing, with the government today announcing that parts of England are officially in a drought.
Early risers get their exercise done before the temperatures are expected to soar well over 30C (86F) on Bournemouth Beach, Dorset on Friday morning
A sunbathing woman soaks up the rays on Bournemouth Beach, Dorset on Friday morning
Two women are seen applying suncream on a busy Bournemouth Beach ahead of expected 95F temperatures on Friday
Today’s official drought declaration does not automatically trigger legal limits on water use in the eight areas of England named today.
But it will pile more pressure on more water companies to ban customers from using hosepipes and sprinklers. Washing cars with buckets of water from the tap could also soon be outlawed.
And if no rain arrives in the coming weeks, millions could also be banned from cleaning any vehicles, buildings and windows. It could also mean water rationing for households.
Britons have already been told to avoid baths and have short showers, put less water in the kettle, only do full loads of laundry in washing machines and put on the dishwasher a maximum of once a day.
But the Government has insisted that there will be no repeat of household taps going dry like in 1976, where millions had to use standpipes in the street.
Members of the public sit on a bench overlooking a very dry Wimbledon Common, south west London on Friday morning
An aerial view of the harvest during the heatwave in Scampton, Lincolnshire. Parts of southern England have had the driest July since records began, and reservoirs are at their lowest level for 30 years. Sources last night said they expect the drought declaration to be a ‘formality’
A general view of dry grass on the football pitches at Hackney Marshes. The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning which came into force on Thursday and covers the rest of this week
An image of scorched Britain captured on July 10 showed how ongoing drought conditions have affected the country
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