It’s a scorcher ... and heatwave’s here to stay!
BRITAIN is set to roast in the hottest weekend of the year so far as temperatures hit 80F over the next 48 hours.
The UK will be warmer than traditional holiday spots in Spain and Greece as the spring heatwave appears to be here to stay.
Much of the country will enjoy blue skies and plenty of sunshine, with tomorrow expected to be the hottest day of the year so far.
Supermarkets are gearing up for a shopping frenzy as drinks and party foods are snapped up, while parks and beaches are expected to be busy.
This weekend has been labelled the “first official barbecue weekend of the year” by retailers M& S.
Treats
A spokesman said: “Our customers have been itching to dust off their barbecues and picnic mats, so we are stocking up our shelves with burgers, sausages and picnic treats to keep up with demand.”
Forecasters have warned that the extreme heat will trigger thunderstorms in some parts of Britain, though they are likely to be few and far between. The best of the weekend weather is forecast across southern and central regions, although Scotland and the North will see temperatures of 70F ( 21C).
Forecasters said temperatures will peak tomorrow, with highs of 80F ( 27C) likely in London and the Southeast.
Elsewhere, thermometers will hit 79F ( 26C), with Scotland and the North likely to get up to at least 61F
( 16C) and could hit 70F. The Met Office said the heatwave is down to a plume of hot air coming up from the Continent.
Spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: “Last week cold Arctic air brought the wintry conditions.
“This weekend an area of low pressure means a south- easterly flow will bring in warm air from the Continent.”
Leon Brown, of The Weather Company, said Britain will be warmer than average through next week.
He said: “Temperatures will climb to 79F ( 26C) by Sunday in the London area and central and southern England.
“This will make southern UK one of the warmest areas in Europe and warmer than just about anywhere over southern Europe. Temperatures will remain above normal for much of next week, but the best of the sunshine will be across the North.”
Bookmakers are offering punters odds of 2- 1 that tomorrow will be the UK’s hottest day so far this year.
But with the warm weather comes a high pollen count, and asthmatics and hay fever sufferers have been warned to take extra care in the heat.
Millions of Britons will head abroad by car this summer after pump prices on the Continent dropped by up to 30 per cent.
Researchers estimate almost five million holidaymakers will get behind the wheel this summer instead of flying, lured by cheap petrol abroad.
The cheapest fuel is in Andorra, where a litre of petrol costs 82p compared to £ 1.08 in the UK, according to research by the Post Office.