Today is the hottest day of the year so far in Essex, toastier than in Athens, Istanbul and Jerusalem.
With the sun shining and with barely a cloud in the sky, it is 25 degrees Celsius across much of the county including Chelmsford, with the lowest at 21 degrees Celsius in Maldon.
Tom Defty, of the Essex Weather and Flood Forecasting Centre, said this year's weather however is showing similarities with 2007 – which included the second wettest summer in the UK since records began in 1912.
He said: "It definitely is the hottest day. The reason for that is there is not a cloud in the sky and the temperature last night didn't drop either."
The hottest May 19 on record in Essex measured a record-breaking 28 degrees Celsius.
The hot weather however will not last, with isolated storms predicted for tomorrow in Essex and a return to more average temperatures of 19 degree Celsius from Wednesday.
It will rain throughout much of Thursday in the county.
"The heat is not going to stay around despite some of the national newspaper headlines," added Mr Defty.
