Phew! Yesterday really was a scorcher and that’s official.

Temperatures in the late afternoon soared to  29.9°C (85°F) in Huddersfield yesterday – the warmest July day since 1996.

And the Met Office has now sparked an official heatwave warning for parts of Yorkshire. The warning is triggered when temperatures are expected to pass 30°C (86°F) for two consecutive days.

Huddersfield weather expert Paul Stevens said: “The heatwave warning is aimed mainly at people who have respiratory problems. I don’t think it will quite reach 30°C here but it may do in parts of East Yorkshire.

“Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far in Huddersfield. I recorded temperatures nudging 29.9°C (85°F) in Waterloo and just below 29.1°C (84°F) in Salendine Nook.”

The hottest day recorded in Huddersfield was in August 1990 when temperatures reached 33.5°C (92°F).

Today is set to be another hot one  but there is the risk of thunderstorms in the mid afternoon  when Huddersfield Carnival will be in full swing .

Paul says the temperatures will be around 27°C (80°F) but it should be slightly cooler on Sunday at about 23°C (73°F).

He added: “After a fresher start to next week the temperatures will start to climb again with high pressure from the Azores making it another hot weekend to come right into next weekend.”

But then things take a bit of a downturn.

Paul said: “It then looks more unsettled as we go into August after what has been a very warm and dry July.”

The spell of fine weather has been down to a large area of high pressure, which has expanded north-eastwards from its semi-permanent home around the Azores.

Alongside this, the jet stream has taken up a position far to the north east of the UK.

Today temperatures could reach a sizzling 31°C (87.8°F) and the areas affected by the heatwave alert also include the East Midlands, East of England, south-east England, London and south-west England.

Dr Stephen Morton, Director of the Yorkshire and the Humber Public Health England Centre, said: “Everyone can enjoy the sun safely by keeping out of the heat at the hottest time of the day, avoiding sunburn and staying hydrated with plenty of cool drinks.

“The elderly and those with long-term illnesses are particularly vulnerable.”