Glastonbury festivalgoers are set to enjoy the glorious sunshine today, but organisers have issued a stern warning to attendees to "be safe in the heat" and have provided crucial safety advice amid the heatwave.
Regardless of the weather, hundreds of thousands of Glastonbury revellers will be out in force, partying day and night as they flock to the West Country for the biggest event in the festival calendar. This year has been predominantly dry for the crowds, but the temperature is expected to soar today and tomorrow.
The BBC forecasts that Glastonbury will experience highs of 27C around 4-5pm today, just as Rod Stewart's set on the Pyramid stage gets underway. But Rod's fans will need to remember to stay hydrated in the warm weather, with a bottle of water just as essential as a bottle of beer.
The BBC anticipates sunny intervals and a gentle breeze for most of the day, with a high pollen and UV rating, so sunscreen will be essential to prevent any bucket hat tan lines.
Yesterday, organisers shared eight tips via Instagram stories on how festival-goers can stay safe in the extreme heat. The first tip advised: "Drink lots of water. Our 800+ taps are all drinking water, if you don't have enough ask the stewards and security."
The guidance continued: "Seek shade from wherever you can. Wear hats or improvise a hat, and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes."
Tips three, four and five stated: "Don't consume too much alcohol. It will dehydrate you. Loosen your clothing and allow the air to circulate. Reapply sunscreen and cover up. Factor 30 is good but covering your skin is better."
The sixth point was aimed at parents attending the festival, stating: "If you have a small child, turn their pushchair away from the sun rather than covering it for shade. Covering the pushchair will increase the temperature inside."
Points seven and eight advised: "Keep an eye on your friends. If you/they feel faint, seek help from stewards and security. There are medical facilities around the site, including the main facility at Big Ground Medical."
This follows the Margate Drum and Bass Festival at Dreamland Margate, a Kent amusement park, having to "close early" as "it was just too hot". The event was scheduled to finish at 10.45pm last night, but organisers made an announcement at 6.30pm that it would be closing ahead of schedule, urging attendees to "get home safely".
In a video shared on X, the Met Office confirmed Saturday saw highs of 31.3C in Heathrow. A few hours ago, they shared today's (Sunday) weather update: " Sunday starts warm and dry for much of the UK with plenty of sunshine.
"Cloudier across parts of central and southwest England, and much of Wales, with patchy rain and drizzle . Temperatures quickly on the rise, especially in the southeast."
Monday could see temperatures soar to 36C in some parts of the UK, potentially making it the hottest June day on record and the highest temperature in nearly three years.