How hot will it get in Norfolk today?

The mercury is set to soar to a scorching 38C (100.4F) in Diss today according to the Met Office, smashing the county's previous record of 37.1C (98.8F) which was recorded in the summer of 2022.

Met Office spokeswoman Natalia Wells said East Anglia would experience an "exceptionally hot day on Friday", adding there was a chance Norfolk's all-time record would happen.

Temperatures predicted by the Met Office for Diss over Friday and the weekend (Image: Met Office)

Youngsters cool off around the long-closed outdoor swimming pool in Diss during the heatwave of July, 1976 when temperatures reached 35C in the town (Image: Newsquest/Archive)

Vast swathes of the county also look set to exceed the highest temperature previously recorded for June of 35.4C, which was reached in Dereham exactly 50 years ago to the day in the heatwave of 1976.

A high of 37C is predicted for Aylsham, Dereham, Downham Market, Norwich, Swaffham, Thetford, Watton and Wymondham.

Those looking for cooler climes will find little respite elsewhere, with temperatures of 36C forecast for Beccles, Fakenham, Holt and King's Lynn.

Sunseekers on the Prom at Hunstanton on Thursday (Image: Chris Bishop)

A couple apply sunscreen while a seagull looks on at Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

Cromer and North Walsham are tipped to reach 35C, followed by Lowestoft, Sheringham and Wells at 34C.

And while Sunny Hunny looks set to live up to its name as it basks in wall-to-wall sunshine, the west Norfolk resort is currently forecast to see a slightly cooler 33C along with neighbouring Heacham.

The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning for today covering much of England including East Anglia.

A couple sunbathing on the beach at Hunstanton on Thursday, as temperatures hit the high-20s (Image: Chris Bishop)

A rare red warning for health has also been issued by the government's health watchdog for eastern and central areas, lasting until Saturday.

Things are set to get a little cooler as the weekend gets under way. With little being the operative word.

RECORD HIGHS

Inside the weather station at RAF Marham (Image: Ian Burt)

Norfolk's highest-ever temperature of 37.1C was recorded at RAF Marham on July 13, 2022.

The UK's hottest day on record, when the mercury soared to 40.3C was recorded at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on July 19, 2022.

Results from RAF bases are often cited because all have weather stations, which feed data into the national picture as well as keeping an eye on flying conditions.

Taking a temperature reading at RAF Marham (Image: Ian Burt)

Previous highs were recorded at Cambridge Botanic Gardens (38.7C) on July 25, 2019, Faversham in Kent (38.5C) on August 10, 2003, Pitsford in Northamptonshire (38.2C) on July 18, 2022 and Heathrow in London (37.8C) on July 31, 2020.