A surge of summer sunshine and pleasant warmth is spreading across the United Kingdom today, paving the way for a brief heatwave over the weekend with temperatures reaching highs of 21°C in some areas, surpassing those in Greece.
The Met Office anticipates that most regions of the country will experience warmth today, with 27 locations expected to have higher temperatures compared to Thursday. The weather is forecasted to be less windy, spanning from Liverpool in the north to Bude in the south.
Weather maps indicate a gradual increase in temperatures throughout the day, starting as low as 10°C in northern regions by midday and peaking at 17°C in the south. By late afternoon, temperatures are projected to climb to around 19°C in major cities like London, Glasgow, Manchester, and Birmingham.
In Glasgow, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning of a “very high” wildfire risk as temperatures soar to 20°C today, potentially rising to 21°C over the weekend.
Tonight is expected to be dry, setting the stage for another hot day on Saturday. The Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster, Steven Keates, mentioned that high pressure will dominate the weather over the weekend, leading to predominantly dry conditions with ample sunshine across most areas.
Additionally, forecast data from WXCharts, utilizing MetDesk modeling, suggests that England and Wales will experience a warm spell by Saturday, with the South and the Midlands expected to have the highest temperatures. London is forecasted to be one of the warmest spots, reaching highs of 21°C, while counties like Berkshire and Surrey will also enjoy unseasonably warm weather for April.
Further west, regions like Worcestershire and the wider West Midlands are likely to bask in warm conditions, with temperatures around 21°C. Areas from Leeds southwards, encompassing the Midlands, Wales, the South East, and South West, are set to have temperatures ranging from 17°C to 21°C.
Conversely, cooler conditions are anticipated in northern regions, with Scotland expected to see temperatures between 7°C and 9°C in many areas. Some parts of Scotland, such as the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District, might experience slightly warmer spells.
Looking ahead, the Met Office projects mostly dry and sunny weather as April draws to a close. The long-range forecast for April 28 to May 7 suggests that high pressure will persist, resulting in predominantly dry conditions with occasional cloud cover and sunny intervals. Rain is likely to be minimal, primarily affecting the far west and northwest regions, while temperatures are expected to remain above average.