With no wasps, no sunburn risk, few insects at all, the temperatures of 20-23 Celsius today have been most enjoyable.  With the sea holding at 16 c hereabouts it's been another day at the beach hut and sea swimming.  Halloween 2014 will go down as one if THOSE days weather wise that live long in the memory, like the 20c on I think 19 February 1998.

The date record has been surpassed by 4 Celsius.  This is unprecedented.

 Record-breaking and incredible, and one day off obliterating the all time November record.

 The times they are a changing.

WI

Topped out here at 18.3c.

It 'feels' incredibly plumey.

With 561 dam air, +14c 850Hpa's and 18c at 925Hpa in a light southerly its no surprise records have been smashed today.

All extremely impressive, especially so as it will be dark in an hour and temps will still be close to 20c in many areas, just a shame it isn't tomorrow really.

Just seen that the temp has peaked at 21.1 C earlier this afternoon in Crediton, Devon. Exceptional for this time of year. 18.9 in the first week of Nov 2010 is the closest I can recall at this time of year. 

Compare today's temperatures with those of Halloween 1934 when it snowed in places.

Incredible 

got to 20.4c here today,incredible warmth across the uk,its almost as if summer has returned for a day to say goodbye.

Another month in 2014 with a final cet  for the October well above average,again!

imby the October mean before today is 13.7c

Bloody hell; we're doomed.

Highs of 20c but a lot of think high cloud.

Summer-like conditions began on March 7th and have continued with the odd interruption since then.  It has been effectively an 8 month summer "half" of the year, more than compensating for the 5 month summer "half" of 2013!!  It has culminated in this natural climax.  23.6 c is frankly staggering.  I love the British weather, especially when we import Saharan air.  48 hours ago this air mass was crossing the Straits of Gibraltar. 

Grass cut, drink in hand. If it wasn't for the fact that I've just shut up shop to ward off the annoying pseudo-Yank bullies known as trick or treaters, I'd have sworn it was late August today.

Saw plenty of wasps today and two red admirals but no bees. Like Stormchaser said the suns rays were gentle and we maxed out in Torquay at 19.4c which I believe up until today was the previous record (19.4c Margate 1968). Really incredible day and it made me smile at how absurdy low the sun was at midday and people were in shorts and t's. A day I think I will always remember.

A max of 19C about 270m or so up on Dartmoor, where I am, on October 31st is incredible.

To be able to look at my bees and find they are flying in numbers like they do in summer and are collecting nectar (from Ivy) in noticable quantity nearly so.

21.6c in my garden, 22.2c at Pershore

only 7 weeks til the winter solstice and the days will start to lengthen!

Bring it on Phil ! 

To think that the sun today has the same strength as it would on the 11th February.

It was weird seeing the sun set at 16.25hrs with so much warmth around. This is up there with the Feb 1998 event IMO 

As the days lengthen...

It felt very strange with the autumnal light, long shadows, etc.... Combining with such extreme warmth.

However, I wouldn't rank with with February 1998 - I mean, summer-like weather in mid autumn is one thing, but summer-like temperatures in mid winter is something else! 

Can't agree there Gavin.  Even the Met men were caught out.  They went for a max of  21.  We had 23.6 - this is an exceptional event and exceeds the date record by 4.2 c!! and as Steve points out, the sun has the same strength as in early February at the moment.  Remarkable times!

Yes but what today shows is the thermal lag in the climatic conditions. 

What Gavin P says, you have to take that into account.

It is wise to always take what Gavin says into account in my experience

Incredible conditions today despite it not being overly sunny. It was still 19c when I left Manchester an hour ago. It was surreal walking around in a T shirt with the a warm breeze blowing. Back at home now and its 17c and clearish. Could easily be a June night!

It was still 19.1C at Rhyl at 20z and still 18.9C at 21z

At Lossiemouth the temperature rose from 16.1C to 17.4C between 19z and 20z

Carlisle, Keswick, Bala and Exeter AP all still above 18C at 21z

Today's hot spots

Gravesend 23.6C
Kew Gardens 23.6C
Charlwood 23.3C
St James's Park 23.2C
Heathrow 22.9C
Northolt 22.8C
Hampton Water Works 22.7C
Wisley 22.3C