77F HEAT TO BLAST BRITAIN THIS WEEK
A TROPICAL air mass is set to bring a glorious 77F mini- heatwave to Britain later this week.
Temperatures are about to rise to double the average for the time of year thanks to warm air flooding in from the Continent.
Thermometers will hit 68F ( 20C) today and tomorrow and could rise to 77F ( 25C) by the end of the week.
Experts say clear skies could even push the temperature up towards 80F ( 26.6C) in isolated spots.
It would make Britain hotter than Mallorca and Benidorm, in Spain, Corfu and Athens in Greece and Morocco in north Africa.
Forecasters have warned people to make the most of it, however, as wetter, cooler weather threatens to make a comeback by the weekend.
A pleasant end to the Easter weekend saw temperatures nudge 70F in parts, with yesterday’s return to work for many bathed in sun.
Tropical
Temperatures hit 66.7F ( 19.3C) in Monmouthshire, Wales, just short of the 69F ( 20.7C) recorded in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, on Sunday – the hottest day of the year so far.
The Met Office said the good weather is thanks to a “tropical continental” air mass from Europe, but things will turn cooler and wetter by the weekend thanks to a stormy Atlantic weather system.
Spokeswoman Nicky Maxey said: “It is going to stay fine and dry for most of the week.
“Temperatures will hit 20C ( 68F) with Wales and the West Midlands in for the best of the sunshine and warmth.”
But she said cold nights will bring the risk of frost, warning: “We could see - 3C in some spots very early in the morning so there is going to be a very big difference between overnight and daytime temperatures.”
Piers Corbyn for WeatherAction predicted the entire country would enjoy an early burst of summer, with temperatures soaring above the 52F ( 11C) average for the time of year.
He said: “The next few days are going to be absolutely glorious, a real burst of summer and much warmer than the Easter weekend.
“Temperatures of 77F are likely and these conditions could even see them nudge the 80F mark in some spots by the end of the week.
“There is a change on the way though as a stormier system will bring much more unsettled conditions by the weekend.”
Chris Burton for The Weather Network agreed the summery burst will end in a less joyous weekend.
He said: “After a dry and rather warm end to the Easter weekend, the fine conditions are set to continue throughout much of this week as high pressure sticks around.
“It is set to get warmer still as we go into Thursday and Friday as winds swing round to a southerly direction.
“This will draw up some very warm air from the Mediterranean, perhaps allowing temperatures to hit 21C or 22C in a few spots during Thursday and, in particular, Friday afternoon.
“The warmth could spark off a few sharp showers by the end of Friday and that will herald something a little more unsettled for the weekend.
“Cooler and breezy conditions are expected to sweep in off the Atlantic by Saturday with temperatures returning to single figures in the north and the low teens further south. There will also be some showery rain at times, particularly on Sunday, and it could become cold enough for some snow on the higher ground of Scotland.”
The week’s outlook and sunny Easter weather has sparked a flurry of fair- weather betting.
Ladbrokes has halved its odds to 10/ 1 that this month becomes the hottest April on record. Coral is offering 4/ 1 – with 3/ 1 that this summer will be the hottest ever.