You can put your coats away – we could hit 15C!

ANYONE jetting off for some winter sun this week could have saved their cash and stayed at home instead.

A flow of sub-tropical air is set to make Britain warmer than parts of the Mediterranean over the coming days, following the extreme conditions brought by Storm Erik.

Temperatures are set to soar in most areas of the UK and there is due to be plenty of sunshine – although western parts are likely to be cloudier.

By Friday, forecasters say the mercury could hit a balmy 15C (59F), which is more than double the seasonal average.

On the same day, Athens is expected to be a far chillier 8C (46F), while Madrid is predicted to reach just 13C (54F).

The highest UK temperatures are set to be in Scotland. However, Cardiff, London and parts of central and southern England could also see temperatures reach 12C (54F). There is also a 30 per cent chance of other areas such as the north coast of Wales and parts of north- east England reaching 15C, the Met Office said.

That temperature equals the forecast on Friday for Rome, Malaga and even Nice on the French Riviera.

Luke Miall of the Met Office said: ‘The really mild conditions are due to an area of high pressure dominating to the south-east of the UK. It is drawing up a flow of south-westerly air from a sub- tropical direction, from the Azores.

‘The airflow is creating very mild conditions across large parts of the country, which are likely to last for the rest of the coming week.’

He added: ‘Some areas will see temperatures well above average.’

Typical temperatures for northern England, north Wales and Scotland – where the warmest temperatures are due to occur – hover around 6 to 7C (43-45F).