An August day… four months early!
Mercury set to hit 70s – but watch out for smog
IT may still be April, but Britain looks set to get an early dose of summer sun.
Temperatures are due to rise throughout today peaking at 22C (72F) tomorrow. Not only will that be the warmest temperature recorded this year, but it will also surpass the average daytime temperature for August.
Retailers have been stocking up on picnic food, with customers expected to head to beaches and parks for the last days of the school holidays.
But anyone hoping to head further afield could find themselves stranded, as a French air traffic control strike has left airports in disarray.
Yesterday families voiced their fury after their travel plans were left in tatters. Airlines have already cancelled hundreds of flights for today, and there are fears that knockon disruption from the 48-hour strike could run into Friday.
The glorious weather may also be marred by air pollution, which is predicted to reach dangerous levels tomorrow. On the weekend, a band of fresher weather will sweep away the traffic fumes and Saharan dust, and temperatures will dip by around 5C on average.
There should still be fine weather for the Boat Race and Grand National on Saturday, but it will be noticeably cooler. Dan Williams, spokesman for the Met Office, said: ‘Thurs- day and Friday are set to be very pleasant for most of the country, and temperatures could hit 22C (72F) on Friday.
‘That would put it up to the warmest day of the year so far, in excess of the 20.7 (69F) seen in Aboyne last Sunday.’ He added: ‘ The weather will change for the weekend, with most places seeing a drop of 5C between Friday and Saturday. That will take it down closer to the normal temperatures we would expect for April.’
Morrisons said it expects barbecue essentials to fly off the shelves, and Waitrose sold a week’s worth of barbecue fuel on Easter Monday.
But pollution levels will peak at ‘ten out of ten’ tomorrow in the South East – dangerous enough for officials to warn the general population to reduce their exercise levels.
Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: ‘People who find their health affected can avoid busy roads and refrain from strenuous exercise outside.’