Warmest day of the year … now it’s back to brollies!
A WEEK after Good Friday brought snow, rain and winds, Britain enjoyed its hottest day of the year yesterday.
Parts of the country were as warm as Nice on the French Riviera – hitting 17C (63F). St James’s Park in Central London and RAF Northolt were the hottest spots, while blue skies, plus a backdrop of blossom and daffodils, made Hampton Court in West London the perfect place to bask in warm sunshine.
But the sudden arrival of spring in the South contrasted sharply with parts of Scotland, where the temperature barely reached 5C (41F).
The warm conditions were a result of southerly winds – but forecasters warn they may be short-lived.
The country is in for a changeable weekend, with bands of rain at times, and temperatures in the South falling a few degrees.
Meteorologist Charlie Powell said: ‘We are expecting rain through the weekend and into next week.’
The Met Office said that during today, ‘occasionally heavy’ rain in the South will move northeastwards.
Some warm sunshine is still possible in the South East, where temperatures could reach 16C (61F).
Northwestern areas are set to be brighter and showery.
More rain is expected to move in from the East Coast tomorrow, while the West will be warmer and drier.
Monday is forecast to be dry to begin with but more rain is likely later.
Thundery showers and longer spells of rain are possible by midweek. More settled, warmer weather is likely towards the middle of the month … before a return to wet and windy conditions.