Britain to swelter through one of the hottest springs EVER 

One of the hottest springs on record is thought to be on its way – with temperatures tipped to hit 29C (84F).

Forecasters say glorious sunshine and below-average rainfall is expected.

Tropical breezes from Spain this weekend provided a taste of things to come.

In its three-month outlook for councils and businesses, the Met Office said: “The chance of a warm spring is much higher than normal.”

Bookmakers cut odds on April being the hottest on record to 4/5.

Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead said: “The odds say we’ll roast.”

Temperatures falling as we move into the evening in Edinburgh

Winds will be much lighter than of late as we move into the afternoon with maximum temperatures of 11 °C.

The night will turn colder but will remain dry and it will be rather cloudy during the first part.

Quite cold with light southeasterly winds with minimum temperatures falling to around 2 °C.

Thanks for reading

Thanks for reading, that’s all from me today, I will now hand you over to my colleague Joseph Gamp who will be with you until 10pm.

Early april forecast

Turning more unsettled during early April, with showers or longer periods of rain.

These showers are likely to be heavy at times, with hail and thunder.

Drier and more settled spells are still possible but are likely to be more short-lived.

Temperatures are most likely to be near average, or perhaps slightly below at times.

Dry night ahead

It will be a dry night, with clear skies for most. There will be some patchy cloud in the evening over parts of northern England, with cloud also over Scotland in the early hours of the morning.

Widespread mist will develop, especially over parts of Scotland and England. Gentle south-easterly winds

Tuesday will be mostly dry with lengthy sunny spells and the risk of a shower, especially in the evening, for parts of northern England.

After a misty start on Wednesday, it will be another mostly dry day, pleasant with sunny periods for all. Light south-easterly winds.

Foggy start

Monday though is expected to get off to a foggy start, according to the Meteogroup.

As the day progresses, it will be mostly dry with patchy cloud and some bright, sunny spells in England, Wales and Scotland.

However there is a risk of a light morning shower for western Wales and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland will be mostly cloudy. Light to moderate south to south-easterly winds.

UK forecast for today

Today’s UK forecast is set to be a mostly dry and sunny day for many according to the Met Office.

The Met Office said: “Fog patches in the east clearing, then most places dry with sunny spells, although more cloud than recently, with a few light showers possible.

“Warmer than on Sunday with lighter winds.

“Mainly dry with variable cloud and clear spells, although still the risk of a light shower from thicker patches of cloud moving north.

“Frost more restricted to the north.”

Temperatures set to soar to 20C next week 

TEMPERATURES will soar to a summery highs next week after yesterday’s hottest day of year so far.

The mercury topped 20C as Britain basked in wall-to-wall sunshine – and there is only more to come.

After a brief dip today and tomorrow, when there will be a “cooler and fresher feel”, the weather will return to near-heatwave conditions come Tuesday.

Forecasters reckon it could reach the late teens at the beginning of the week, before surpassing 20C once more on Wednesday.

It will be warmest in southern England and northern Scotland, but most areas will enjoy cloudless skies and magnificent sunshine.

Warmth to build up next week

BBC Weather’s Louise Lear said: “It’s been a glorious weekend so far, with all four nations recording its warmest day of the year so far.

“As we go through the next few days, it does look likely that the warmth is set to build.

“Highs of 15C to 16C on Monday, but as we move into Tuesday, warmer air continues to push up from the west of Europe and it will get noticeably warmer with each day.

“Dry, settled and sunny, with temperatures likely to peak in the mid to high teens in many places.

“That story is going to continue through the week ahead, and we could see temperatures back again up to 20C – way above where they should be for this time of year.”

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud added: “High pressure continues to dominate into the new working week with fair amounts of cloud and temperatures increasing during the course of the week.”

UK weather outlook for Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday will be fine as it will be dry with lengthy periods of sunshine however there is a chance of a few showers developing during the afternoon and evening.

Similar conditions on Wednesday as it will be dry with lots of sunshine but also a chance of a few showers developing later in the day.

Warm weather threatens ‘pollen apocalypse’

Pollen counts are forecast to rocket through the coming days as temperatures soar towards 21C.

Tropical warmth following wet weather will spur trees to fill the air with allergens weeks earlier than usual.

Experts warn hay-fever sufferers to get tissues and sprays ready as eyes and noses start streaming this week.

Airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg said: “The main culprit is going to be tree pollen.

“The warm weather will help to bring out all the buds and the flowers on the trees, and this will create a lot of pollen.

“Pollen levels may rise over the next few days as more and more trees start to flower.”

Hay fever sufferers should be ready for an ‘onslaught of pollen’, he warned.

He added: “It’s important to be prepared for the forthcoming onslaught of pollen.

“One of the best ways to do this is to create your own hay fever first aid kit, following the rules carefully.

“We are expecting an imminent pollen apocalypse.”

Long range forecast for April

And long-range forecasts predict the balmy weather will last well into April.

Weather expert Jim Dale told the Express: “I think hot weather could come in fairly early as far as April is concerned perhaps.

“I know March is the start of spring but I think we’re probably going to get properly into April before we start to see the searing sort of temperatures.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see 26C, 27C, 28C in the middle of April.”

During the first two weeks of April, the Met Office said the weather is “likely to become more changeable during this period with spells of drier weather”.

But next month is expected to be generally warmer as the country gradually moves towards summer.

Odds on hottest April

The UK has basked in its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 20C.

Leading bookmaker Coral makes it odds on at 4-5 that next month is to be the warmest April since records began.

“Temperatures are on the rise and with spring beginning now, hopes are high for a scorching April. So make it odds on to enter the record books as the UK’s hottest ever,” said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.

Temperatures to ‘surge significantly’ next week

BRITS are set for more sunshine next week as temperatures are set ‘surge significantly’

The Met Office says that London in particular will see clear skies and top temperatures of around 17°C on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes has said the weather “is going to get a lot, lot warmer” next week.

“As the southerly winds continue to push northwards through Tuesday and Wednesday, those temperatures are going to surge significantly,” he said.

“Tuesday – a fine day with some sunshine – maybe a few isolated showers developing through the afternoon but most of you will have a dry day though.

“Temperatures will reach a high of 19°C in London, 15°C in Glasgow and 14°C in Belfast.

“The fine weather with prolonged spells of Spring sunshine, for many of us will last for much of the weekend, with temperatures on the warm side for the time of year.”

‘Big weather highlights’ to hit in April

It has been claimed by weather experts that there is a possibility of a heatwave in April.

Weather expert Jim Dale told the Express: “I think hot weather could come in fairly early as far as April is concerned perhaps. I know March is the start of spring but I think we’re probably going to get properly into April before we start to see the searing sort of temperatures.” 

He also added: “Longer-term, given what’s happening globally in terms of the temperature profiles in the southern hemisphere and what’s also happening in the United States, I would not be surprised if we started to see some big highlights – in whichever direction it goes, either cold or hot.”

The Met Office on April’s weather

Met Office meteorologists admit that, heading into April, “temperatures are likely to be above average”.

It will locally “feel warm”, too, according to the Met Office.

However, looking ahead from April 2, the Met Office seem unsure of whether or not there will be a heatwave. The agency predicts: “Drier and more settled spells are still possible but are likely to be more short-lived. Temperatures are most likely to be near average, or perhaps slightly below at times.”

Outlook for the week ahead

According to BBC Weather, temperatures will be around 14C on Monday, before we’re surprised to a real heatwave again.

Tuesday is set to hit 18C – one of the hottest days of the year so far.

This however will be topped on Wednesday, with temperatures predicted to hit around 20C.
The clear skies and next to no wind should make you feel like you’re on holiday in Tenerife!

This midweek scorcher is also followed by a near identical 19C day on Thursday, before next weekend sees the mercury hover between 16C and 17C over the three days.

Then, by Monday March 28 the weather will return to around 15C – a more cloudy March we’re usually used to.

Today’s weather

Any early mist and fog will soon lift and clear.

Then largely dry during the day with lengthy periods of sunshine although there will be areas of cloud across Northern Ireland, Wales, parts of southern and central England and eastern Scotland bringing spots of drizzle but will break during the day.