Weather models suggest temperatures could rise as high as 20C on Wednesday – making the UK warmer than Ibiza on what would be the hottest day of the year so far
The UK will be warmer than holiday hotspots such as Ibiza next week as temperatures are surging.
The Met Office’s latest forecast maps show the mercury could rise to 19C in London at around 3pm on Wednesday. Temperatures could hit 18C quite widely in southern and central England, while Wales and northern areas might see 16C to 17C. Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to be a few notches cooler.
The hottest day of the year so far was March 5, when temperatures peaked at 19.2C in London. Some weather models suggest the mercury will surpass that on Wednesday.
The UKV model shows possible highs of 20C in south-east England at around 3pm, with 19C and 18C on the cards in eastern areas, the Midlands and the wider south.
And the GFS weather model suggests temperatures will spike well above the seasonal average on Wednesday. Temperature anomaly maps for around 6pm show areas of deep red across England and Wales, denoting where will be much warmer than expected for this time of year.
In comparison, the Met Office expects temperatures in Ibiza to peak at 16C on Wednesday. In Zante, people can expect highs of just 15C.
Beyond Wednesday, the Met Office says we will see “frequent spells of pleasant spring sunshine”. However, there is also a risk of some colder interludes. The Met Office forecast for March 19 to 28 states: “It will quickly turn more settled everywhere, with most places predominantly dry.
“Temperatures will fluctuate between being milder than average to colder than average, so it is possible we could see some overnight frost and fog, but overall by day there should be frequent spells of pleasant spring sunshine making it feel fine away from coasts exposed to a brisk easterly wind. How long the settled conditions last is less certain with some signals that showers/rain could return later in the period.”
BBC Weather says: “More rain will arrive from the Atlantic on Monday, but high pressure building over the near continent could keep much or all of it away from southern areas, especially the Southeast. High pressure will then become the dominant feature through the rest of the week.
“On Tuesday, there may be further rain and strong winds in some northern and western areas, while much of the country experiences a breezy but drier and warmer day with some sunshine.
“From Wednesday onwards, high pressure near or over the UK should ensure plenty of dry weather. Some fairly cold and foggy nights will be possible, but by day there should be some warm sunshine for most places. However, easterly breezes could develop, making some eastern coastal regions feel chillier at times.”
