Get set for sun: Britain to be as hot as the Med

AFTER a miserable few weeks, you might be thinking it’s about time for a bit of spring sunshine.

But if you were considering jetting off to bask on a Mediterranean beach, be warned – you might be better off staying where you are.

Warm southerly winds from the Continent are set to brighten up our weather and send temperatures in Britain climbing higher than those in Spanish and Greek resorts.

Forecasters say the South East could see temperatures reaching 23C (73F) by the end of next week. The whole of England and Wales will rise to around 10C above the norm for mid-April. Met Office meteorologist Sarah Kent said that a tussle between warm air from the south and rain from the west could spell bad weather tomorrow, before the mercury begins to climb on Monday.

Temperatures in the South East could begin the week at about 16C (61F) and keep rising. London is set to see highs of 23C (73F), and Bristol 20C (68F), while Cardiff and Plymouth will remain at around 17C (63F). Readings in the South East – which may trigger high pollen counts – are set to dwarf the year’s highest temperature so far.

‘The hottest day of the year so far was recorded on April 7 in Kent and that was 19.4C (66.9F),’ said Miss Kent. ‘It’s pretty likely we will beat that.’

Meanwhile, anyone who does head to Spain’s Costa del Sol hoping for some sun could see cooler temperatures than those at home, with the mercury rising to about 20C (68F).

The Greek island of Kefalonia is set for highs of 21C (70F), while those flying out to Portugal can expect temperatures between 17C (63F) and 22C (72F).

‘As the week continues the trend of temperatures rising with the warm air flow looks set to continue,’ Miss Kent said. ‘This warm continental air should see the east of the country enjoy temperatures in the low 20s.’

She said these temperatures will be above the average for mid-April. London would normally expect to see 13C (55F) to 14C (57F) at this time of year with an average of about 12C (54F) normal for

the South. And if you thought that the past week has been particularly dreary, you’d be right. Forecasters say many areas had less than half the expected amount of sun, while London did not have a single hour of recorded sunshine.

Amateur meteorologist Ben LeeRodgers said yesterday that Thursday April 5 was the last time any sun hours were recorded from the location he monitors on Hampstead Heath, North London. The Met Office said there had been less sun than usual so far in April.

Miss Kent said Middlesex has had 25.4 sun hours so far this month, which is 16 per cent of the usual total average for April – less than half the 33 per cent that forecasters would expect to have seen by this point.