(Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
The scorching heat will continue across the North East today, with temperatures expected to rise rapidly through the morning before reaching around 32C.
The Met Office says it will be a dry and largely sunny morning, although skies are expected to turn hazy during the afternoon as high cloud spills in from the north west.
Temperatures will climb quickly, reaching the mid-20s by 10am before peaking at 32C between 2pm and 5pm.
Winds will remain fairly light throughout the day, reaching up to 10mph early in the afternoon.
The Met Office says: “Sunny and very warm today but turning cooler from tomorrow (August 14).
“A dry and largely sunny morning but skies will turn hazy this afternoon as some high cloud begins to spill in from the northwest. Feeling hot, especially in the south. Maximum temperature 32°C.”
The warm conditions will continue into the evening, with temperatures remaining at 25C at 9pm.
It says: “Overnight cloud will continue to thicken with some rain arriving into the northwest by dawn. Minimum temperature 15°C.”
Here is your hour-by-hour forecast for Darlington today amid the sunny weather:
7am: Sunny, 18C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.
8am: Sunny, 20C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 7mph winds.
9am: Sunny, 23C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 7mph winds.
10am: Sunny, 26C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 7mph winds.
11am: Sunny, 29C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 7mph winds.
12pm: Sunny, 31C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 8mph winds.
1pm: Sunny, 31C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 10mph winds.
2pm: Sunny, 32C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
3pm: Sunny, 32C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
4pm: Sunny, 32C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
5pm: Sunny, 32C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
6pm: Sunny, 31C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
7pm: Sunny, 30C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 9mph winds.
8pm: Sunny, 27C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 7mph winds.
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9pm: Bright and hazy, 25C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.
10pm: Clear, 23C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.
11pm: Clear, 22C, less than 5 per cent chance of rain, 6mph winds.