UK to hit 26°C on Saturday
The UK could see its hottest day of the year so far this weekend with temperatures set to rise as high as 26°C in parts of England.
In parts of the South East, including London, the mercury is predicted to rise to this level on Saturday and Sunday. Most of the UK will enjoy fine weather and several places could reach the mid-20s further north and in Wales.
The highs of 26°C this weekend could see the UK hotter than Majorca, which is forecast to see 24°C on Saturday and 23°C on Sunday, and Ibiza, at 22°C.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said there will be “lengthy spells of spring sunshine”.
However, more unsettled conditions are likely in the north, with a few heavy afternoon showers or thunderstorms predicted to develop across northern England and southern Scotland.
On Friday highs of 24°C are possible, with plenty of sunshine, the Met Office said. The sunshine will last into the evening and the outlook for overnight is dry with prolonged clear spells. Lights winds and some mist and fog is expected in places.
Pollen levels, which increase as the temperature rises, will span low to medium levels over the weekend.
On Sunday, many places will start fine and warm but likely to become cloudier from the west or south-west during the day Scattered showers, which could be accompanied by thunder, are expected.
Mr Deakin said: “There’s still a bit of uncertainty about the timings of those showers developing but with more clouds in the west it won’t be as warm, whereas parts of the east, if the cloud doesn’t get in, it could be warmer still, 25°C, maybe 26C in one or two locations.”
The spell of hot weather is not expected to last beyond the weekend.
Conditions are predicted to return to a more unsettled pattern in the new working week. Rain and showers will start to move in from the west, due to a developing low pressure system from the Atlantic, the Met Office said.
