SUSSEX is braced for what could be the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures predicted to hit 33C.

The Met Office says the mercury in southern, eastern and central England will soar on Monday, July 11, amid a heatwave blasting the nation.

Parts of the country will be hotter than some of the world’s top beach destinations, including Jamaica, the Maldives and the Bahamas, with the hot weather set to last until the weekend.

The UK’s record high for 2022 currently stands at 32.7C, recorded at Heathrow on June 17.

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “High pressure is going to dominate tomorrow, with lots of sunshine, particularly in England and Wales.

“In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will be somewhat hazy at times with thick cloud moving in from the north-west, possibly bringing some rain at times.

“But for most of us it will be a dry and sunny day, well into the high 20s from the morning, with central, southern and eastern parts of England to possibly see maximum highs of 33C.

“So it’s very possible tomorrow will be the hottest day of the year so far, it will certainly be on par with the existing record, maybe more.

“It will also be very warm overnight going into Tuesday, remaining in the low 20s in cities, so many may experience an uncomfortable night.”

A heat-health alert has been issued for some parts of the UK this week, with those in affected areas advised to shade or cover windows and check on the vulnerable and the elderly.

The east and south of England will see an amber level three alert, while the rest of England on a level two alert.

The hot spell looks set to subside later in the week, when a cold front is expected to start pushing in.

However, Mr Dewhurst said temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 20s until the end of the week.

In Brighton and Hove, Monday is predicted to be a dry and hot day, with maximum temperatures of 33C.

On Tuesday, it’ll be mostly dry and still hot. However, it will become cloudier through the day, with the odd spot of rain arriving in the evening and maximum temperatures of 31C.

From Wednesday onwards, it will mainly be dry with sunny spells with temperatures trending upwards again on Friday.