London. Britain had its hottest day for 13 years Wednesday, with the top temperature falling just short of being the country's highest ever. But the record may still be broken Saturday as temperatures are expected to soar further in an ongoing heatwave. The heatwave is caused by the extended Azores high connecting to an area of very persistent high pressure over Scandinavia and NE Europe. This impressive barrier of high pressure is blocking westerly Atlantic throughs from entering western Europe. The very high temperatures in England are caused by gentle southeasterly winds bringing hot air over the English Channel from mainland Europe, where air temperatures reached 38 C and higher.

The highest temperature recorded Wednesday was 36.4 C / 97.5 F at Gravesend, southeast England, nudging the record 37.1 C / 98.8 F set at Cheltenham, in the southwest, in August 1990.

It was also the hottest ever day in the capital, with a top temperature of 35.7 C / 96 F recorded by the London Weather Centre.

Britain has already experienced its third warmest June and July for the last 100 years. The average August temperature in southeast England, including London is about 22 C

Copyright 2003 - AFP & WeatherOnline