Britain is set to sizzle within hours as a heat bomb travelling up from southern Europe hits the country. Brits have enjoyed a sunny week as spring begins, and the mercury is set to be pushed up beyond 20C with the arrival of the latest blast of warm air.
In fact, today could be the warmest day of the year if expected temperatures come to pass. By this evening, parts of London and the south coast could be as warm as 20C, while the Southampton area is expected to be the hottest in the country, with highs of 23C. In the southeast, East Anglia and Lincolnshire, temperatures are expected to rise to 19C by 6pm according to forecasting service Netweather.
Across Wales, the same map shows temperatures of up to 18C, with Cardiff set to be the warmest area.
Most of southern England is expected to hit around 17C though northern areas will experience a slightly cooler evening, with top temperatures of 14C in Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, some areas will reach a high of 15C this evening while the lowest temperature expected is 12C.
Jim Dale, senior meteorologist at British Weather Services, advised that the maximum expected temperature was 23C, which would beat the previous hottest temperature this year.
That was 21.3C and was measured at Northolt on March 20.
He added: “The warm plume is emanating from the central Mediterranean, essentially off the Libyan desert and the same airflow has given Sweden and Finland unprecedented early April record temperatures some 4C above the previous early April records.”
However, Jim cautioned those hoping to enjoy the sizzling evening.
“It’s not all good news, enjoy the blue skies and sunshine for sure, but the wildfire risks are rising all the time in the dry conditions and the kind of temperature values mentioned clearly show that fossil-fuelled climate has not gone away!”
Europeans will be even warmer this evening, with parts of northwestern France forecast to hit 23C.
Forecasters predict that most areas will warm up through the day, with areas of southern England hitting up to 18C by 3pm.
But this mini summer will be short-lived as temperatures are set to drop tomorrow, down to a high of 16C at 3pm tomorrow according to WXCharts.
At this time, some areas of the UK could see a low of just 7C, up in the Scottish Highlands.
Cloud and showery rain across southwest England, Wales and Northern Ireland will gradually clear, as will patchy low cloud across northeast Scotland. Otherwise dry and settled with lots of warm sunshine. A cooling easterly breeze, especially near North Sea coasts.
A dry evening and night with mostly clear skies. Some low cloud developing in the north and east. Turning frosty in parts of the north. Breezy, especially across the south.
Updated:
Low cloud lingering across some northeastern areas, where feeling chilly. Elsewhere a dry and settled day with unbroken sunshine. Warm in the sunshine, though a cooling easterly breeze in places.
