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A range of guidance is available for people keen to shield their pets from the potential dangers of the current heatwave.

For starters, don't keep them in the car, where the heat can soar to dangerous temperatures in minutes - potentially causing animals irreversible organ damage or death.

The humidity is also a factor, according to the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. 

Dr Barry Kellogg, from the group, explained: "Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. 

"If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves and their temperature will AG百家乐在线官网rocket to dangerous levels - very quickly."

The organisation says taking a dog's temperature can help, and this should not exceed 40C. 

If it does, here's what to do:

• Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area;
• Apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them;
• Let them drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes;
• Take them directly to a veterinarian.
  

The Humane Society also advises pet owners to limit exercise on hot days, and points out fans are not as effective on animals as humans.

It suggests providing ample shade and water.

And, it says, a cooling body wrap, vest or mat can help pets - as can a cool bath if your dog does not find them stressful.

Thanks to our reader Dave for this picture, which he says he captured in Ludlow.

The English town looks more Sorrento than Shropshire today, if this image is anything to go by.

By Mickey Carroll, science and technology reporter

The NHS will be under even more pressure as temperatures continue to rise, so looking after yourself in the sunshine is crucial.

Since the early 1990s, the number of skin cancer cases in the UK has more than doubled.

This increase is partially attributed to older groups knowing "less about the dangers of tanning in their youth".

So, it's important you're aware of the dangers of sunburn and how to prevent it...

Extreme weather has hit the continent over the past few days, with wildfires spreading south of Athens on Thursday.

On Friday, authorities banned outdoor activity and issued evacuation orders.

Parts of a coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, the location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, a major tourist attraction, were closed.

The fire came as temperatures approached 40C in Greece's first heatwave of the summer.

In Spain, people were also advised to stay indoors due to hotter-than-usual temperatures. 

Storms in France and Germany

Meanwhile, storms in France and Germany have left at least three people dead.

Torrential storms in France caused two deaths and flooded the streets of Paris.

It also caused a leak in parliament, with Prime Minister Fran莽ois Bayrou remarking: "Have you noticed that it was raining?"

Seventeen people were also injured, one critically. 

A falling tree killed a 12-year-old child in southwest France, local media reported, and a man died when his quad-bike hit a toppled tree in the northwest. 

The French civil defence agency said the storm, which hit after a heatwave, also cut power to 110,000 homes. 

If you're going out in the sunshine, it's crucially important to have the right suncream protection. Not only does it help protect you against sunburn and skin cancer, but it can also help your skin as you age.

Some of the UK's most popular sunscreens have failed safety tests in the past, offering far less protection than promised.

Here's how to make sure you have the best protection...

Choose a suncream with "broad spectrum" protection - this means it will protect against the two main types of UV (ultraviolet) rays in sunlight - UVA and UVB.

While UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers, UVA rays can also contribute to skin cancer and premature ageing.

You should also pick a product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. The SPF number tells you how well the suncream protects against UVB rays.

What is the star rating?

While the SPF rating will tell you how well a suncream protects against UVB, star ratings are the indicator for UVA protection.

You should look for a high star rating of four or five stars, according to Cancer Research UK, or "UVA" in a circle, which indicates it meets the EU's minimum standard.

Cancer Research UK's tips for applying sunscreen:

• Use a lotion, pump-spray or roll-on over an aerosol, as the coverage from aerosols can be patchy and thin;
• Put enough on, applying sunscreen evenly and thickly;
• Reapply regularly, even if your sunscreen says it's "once a day" or "water resistant";
• Don't rely on SPF in moisturiser or make-up, as often these products don't give enough protection on their own;
• Check the expiry date on your sunscreen to make sure it's still providing protection.

For more on sunscreen and how to pick what's best for you, click on the link below...

A question in from one of our readers here.

Janner says its 20C in Plymouth, peaking at 25C, but it looks more like winter.

Janner's not wrong here. According to the Met Office, it's 20C now and expected to hit 21C a little later.

Tomorrow, it could be as high as 25C.

It's mostly sunny on both days, with some cloudy spells that may, I guess, make it look a little like winter at certain times of the morning.

As for London, yes, it's going to be hot. Temperatures could top 33C in the capital today and 34C tomorrow.

It's expected to be a record-breaking opening day at Wimbledon, at least off the court.

It's never been as hot as 30C for the first round of matches - 29.3C is the highest, to be exact - but that's very likely to be beaten today, with highs of at least 32C expected in SW19.

You may have heard the UK is hotter than some of your favourite holiday destinations.

Today, that includes parts of the Caribbean.

It's forecast to be as high as 34C in the south and southeast today, dropping to about 30C in Birmingham and a little less than that in the northwest.

Compare that to the highs in these countries in the Caribbean:

• Havana, Cuba: 33C
• Nassau, The Bahamas: 32C
• Barbados: 31C
• Kingston, Jamaica: 34C

The warmest - and driest - spring on record means conditions are perfect for pollen production and release.

That spells bad news for anyone with hay fever, and the pollen forecast makes that clear (see the post below this one for more on that).

First, let's take a look at how and when pollen sneaks up on us:

• Tree pollen comes first, typically from late March to mid-May, affecting around 25% of hay fever sufferers;
• Grass pollen affects the majority of hay fever sufferers due to around 150 types of grass pollen flowering simultaneously. It has two peaks, and its season typically lasts from May until July;
• Weed pollen is the third trigger, and it can be released at any time, though the season typically covers the end of June to September.

Why is it worse this year?

Dr Beverley Adams-Groom, senior palynologist and pollen forecaster at the University of Worcester, said the tree pollen phase was particularly bad for sufferers this year.

She told us people will likely suffer more severe symptoms due to a particularly high pollen count, putting it down to two factors.

"First of all, trees that produce allergenic pollen in the UK tend to have alternating high and low years of severity - this year is a high year," she said.

"Secondly, there was suitable weather for high pollen production last summer when the pollen was set in the buds."

It was a particularly warm and dry June in 2024, meaning more pollen was produced in birch, leading to a more severe tree pollen season, she explained.

She said central regions of the UK are particularly affected.

Southern and eastern regions are impacted less due to periods of cold winds in the spring, which tend to reduce the amount of pollen released.

The Met Office runs a five-day pollen forecast for parts of the year you may call hay fever season - more on that shortly.

There are four levels - low, moderate, high and very high.

It's very high for much of England today, with the only real respite in the northern parts of Scotland.

Have a look below for today's outlook...