Hit the beach! Today could be hottest April day for years
(but beware a double whammy of heavy smog and rising pollen)
Grab your hat, sun cream and even your beach towel – because britain is about to bask in its hottest april day for seven years.
Temperatures are expected to soar to over 80F today thanks to a plume of tropical air drawn up from the azores.
The resulting heatwave will see the UK become hotter than athens and rome.
Forecasters say highs of 27C (81F) are possible this afternoon in the South, while even parts of the North could reach 22-24C (72-75F). The average for midapril is just 14C (57F).
However, the warm air sweeping in will also draw air pollution from continental Europe, leading to high smog levels in cities, causing problems for asthmatics and the elderly. The warm weather will last into the weekend and even the start of next week for some southern areas, according to the Met Office. Today is expected to be the hottest april day since 27.8C (82F) was recorded on april 23, 2011 and the warmest april 19 since records began in 1841. It could come close to the warmest ever april temperature of 29.4C (84.9F) in Camden Square, London, on april 16, 1949. While most will love the heat, it could pose problems for the 50,000 runners tackling the London Marathon on Sunday. and those with asthma will suffer a double whammy of smog and a ‘pollen bomb’. The Met Office warned of high pollen levels over the next four days, as a variety of trees burst into bloom.
The warm air began to move in yesterday with temperatures hitting 25C (77F) in London.
Met Office forecaster John West said: ‘Today we will be looking at 26C (79F) in parts of London and the South East ... but there is a chance some areas could reach 27C (81F). It’s looking like today is going to be the warmest day but the sunny conditions are likely to continue into the weekend.’
The unusual warmth is due to a flow of hot air being drawn from the azores directly to the UK over the atlantic. Parts of the country today will be hotter than rome, where 25C (77F) is forecast, and athens at 24C (75F).