Is it time to light up the BBQs? Britain is set to sizzle in glorious 22C sunshine this weekend after country was battered by tornados, thunder, flash floods and freak hailstorms
- Sunny weekend forecast for many with highs of 22C (72F) in South East
- Current 2023 record of 21.6C (70.1F) was set in County Down on Monday
Britons are set to enjoy the warmest weekend of the year so far with highs of 22C (72F) following a miserable week of thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding.
The upbeat forecast suggests the best temperatures will be in the South East as an area of high pressure sweeps in to bring fine and settled weather tomorrow.
Conditions will also be warm and dry for many areas on Sunday although there could be some downpours in western parts as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The record for the UK’s warmest day of the year so far is likely to be broken over the next few days – beating the 21.6C (70.1F) at Helens Bay in County Down on Monday.
It follows a week of severe weather featuring thunder, lightning, hail and even funnel clouds as flash flooding resulted in a major incident being declared in Somerset.
Better late than never: Bluebells in full bloom
Nothing says spring has finally arrived more than the glorious sight of a carpet of bluebells in full bloom.
This stunning display near Arlington in East Sussex has been attracting visitors in their droves for decades.
For 50 years, John McCutchan, 86, has been welcoming them through the gates every spring – and helped raise more than £1million for local charities.
Due to a long cold and wet winter, the bluebells and white wood anemones are later this year and the season will be shorter but retired farmer Mr McCutchan said it was worth the wait.
He said: ‘It is an absolute delight every year when they come through and this year is no different though we have had to wait a bit longer.’
After a cloudy but dry start to the day for much of the country today, the afternoon will see some breaks in the cloud in Scotland and northern England.
Southern England is likely to see pockets of showers, intensifying into the evening, while moderate northerly winds are also likely.
Tonight will be clear and dry in Scotland and northern England, while an area of cloud develops over the south.
It will remain largely dry, although showers are likely in coastal areas, and the fresh northerly wind from the daytime will persist into the night, specifically in southern England
Tomorrow will begin largely cloudy across the country, though this will pass during the day, leaving for a mild and bright day for most.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: ‘It’s been an energetic week of weather with heavy showers and in some places a thunderstorm.
‘But it all calms down a little at least for a day or two heading in this weekend as an area of high pressure starts to topple in from the North West and by Saturday morning virtually everyone is fine and settled.’
He said there would be lots of low cloud across the UK first thing tomorrow, which would be thickest along the North Sea coast where there will be some patchy drizzle.
This will see temperatures ‘held back’ in cities such as Norwich and Hull to only 14C (57F) – but the mercury should reach 21C (70F) in southern England.
On Sunday there will be wet start for northern Scotland and Northern Ireland before the rain pushes into western England through the morning.
Drinkers and the landlord at The Walnut Tree pub in the Somerset village of West Camel near Yeovil at 11pm on Tuesday – as they refused to let the flooding stop them enjoying a pint
Heavy rain caused roads to flood in Essex on Wednesday with several vehicles getting stuck
Severe flooding in the Devon village of Tipton St John on Tuesday following heavy rain
Flooding in Frome, Somerset, on Tuesday as parts of the UK endured thunder and heavy rain
There will be sunny and largely fine weather towards South East with temperatures up to 22C (72F).
But a slow-moving weather front will bring some wet weather at the start of next week into southern and eastern areas and hold back temperatures again.
Monday is likely be a day of scattered clouds and showers for all, some thundery in the North East.
However, after that for much of next week more settled weather is expected although it will also be a bit cooler.
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