Hot blast from Africa brings an April heatwave
A PLUME of hot air straight from Africa is to bring a prolonged April heatwave to much of Britain tomorrow.
The settled conditions will move across England and Wales today and forecasters say dry and sunny conditions could continue in many areas for the rest of the month.
By tomorrow, temperatures could reach 26C (79F) in south-east England – making London hotter than Madrid, Rome and Malibu in California – and 23C (73F) in the North.
It could be the warmest April day for seven years and compares with average daytime temperatures for the time of year of 13C-14C (55F-57F). Bookmakers are already slashing the odds on this April being the hottest on record.
The weekend is due to remain fine, warm and dry apart from a risk of heavy and possibly thundery showers in north-west England and west Wales on Sunday.
In its forecast for up to the start of May, the Met Office said ‘temperatures are expected to be above average, and warm at times’ in central and southern areas, although ‘ changeable conditions’ will affect the North and West.
It could also feel fresher near coasts, where the temperature difference with the sea could create breezes and also some mist.
It’s no surprise to learn that more changeable weather will hit the UK in time for the bank holiday weekend at the beginning of May, with forecasters predicting ‘a mixture of periods of more settled, fine and dry conditions interspersed with spells of showers’.
This week’s fine weather is being brought in courtesy of a strong flow of warm air from North Africa.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said the new weather system is bringing high pressure, causing temperatures to peak tomorrow. It will be cooler across Scotland and Northern Ireland but Mr Deakin added: ‘Even there, temperatures will be higher than they have been for much of the spring so far.’
However, parents were quick to bemoan the fickle British weather, having shivered through the gloomy Easter holidays but now packing their children off to school in sunshine.