It’s all about the numbers today and just how high temperatures are going to go, but here are few words of caution about when we will know for sure what the maximum is.

Across the UK there’s a network of official Met Office weather stations with thermometers that have been verified to be as accurate as possible. Some of these send their readings automatically every hour. The data from others can come once or twice a day or even only once a week.

Even then, with significant readings such as a possible new record for the UK, there is a further verification process that takes place just to double check everything with the weather station is as it should be. That’s why temperature records are often referred to as provisional until they are properly verified.

We will know a number later today but there is always a possibility this could be surpassed with new information that arrives in several days. There is a much smaller possibility it could be discounted.