Back in the swim again
TEMPERATURES in parts of the UK are expected to be significantly warmer this week as families and friends are reunited and sporting activities are allowed to resume in England.
Some areas saw highs of 19C (66.2F) yesterday afternoon with a possible peak of 24C (75.2F) tomorrow, the Met Office said.
The warm weather coincides with a major easing of England’s lockdown measures, with the “stay at home” order ending, allowing groups of six people, or two households, to meet outside.
Outdoor sporting venues such as football and cricket pitches, tennis and basketball courts, outdoor swimming pools, golf courses and sailing clubs were also allowed to reopen yesterday.
Thousands of golfers took to the course yesterday, with some in Derbyshire teeing up with glow-in-thedark balls just after midnight.
In the West swimmers were quick to take a dip at the Lido in the Clifton area of Bristol and others enjoyed picnics on the nearby Downs.
However, the warm weather may also see larger crowds gather at another protest anticipated in Bristol this afternoon.
Forecasters said the best of the weather is expected tomorrow, with sunny spells “persisting” and a high of 24C (75.2F) in London and the
South of England. Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said clouds will also “start to thin” and give way to clear skies and sunshine.
Temperatures in March have not gone above 24C (75.2F) since March 29 1968, when 25.6C (78F) was recorded.
Mr Claydon said: “Wednesday is the headline figure for the week with our highest temperature of 24C (75.2F).”
But he warned that, by the Easter weekend, cold air from the north may bring a “notable” dip in temperatures, with showers forecast to spread to most areas.
“We’ve got a cold front moving through so that will knock temperatures down, and by Friday we’re going to be back into mid-single figures, so quite a notable change by the end of the week,” he said.
The Met said temperatures are likely to be around or below average for the time of the year.
In contrast to the sunshine in the south, in northern parts of the UK a yellow weather warning for heavy and persistent remains in place until 6pm today.
Those living in areas of north-west Scotland saw more than 3.1in (80mm) of rain over the weekend, and residents in Seathwaite, Cumbria, received 7.4in (187mm), said the Environment Agency.
The coldest Easter weekend on record was in 2013 when minus 12.5C (9.5F) was recorded in Aberdeenshire on Easter Sunday.