FLAMING FEBRUARY
It’ll be warmer than Rome and we could hit record 70f
THIS time last year, thermals and snowboots were flying off the shelves… for the Beast from the East was on its way.
But don the same gear this week and you may get a little sweaty, because temperatures are expected to reach 16C (61F) – more than double the average for February.
With dry and relatively sunny conditions forecast for the whole week, families embarking on half-term breaks may well wish they’d opted for British beaches instead.
On Friday and Saturday temperatures will likely reach 16C in many areas. This will be warmer than it is in Rome – 12C (54F) – and around the same as Mallorca.
Earlier in the week temperatures will peak at around 11 or 12C (52-54F), but come the weekend, forecasters say there’s even an outside chance the February record of 19.7C (67F) may be broken.
Simon Partridge, of the Met Office, said: ‘There’s a chance of reaching it, albeit a low chance. The mid-teens are likely later in the week ahead, with potential for higher, although it’s a bit too early to say.
‘Temperatures will generally be on the milder side over the next 30 days, with short colder spells at times.’
London, Cardiff and newcastle should all reach 15 or 16C by Friday, Mr Partridge added.
Meanwhile, the Royal Horticultural Society said this was shaping up to be the most fragrant February in memory.
Floral scents are far stronger than expected as plants have sprouted larger flowers in greater numbers than usual.
Winter-blooming plants including snowdrops and crocuses are releasing bursts of strong smells because of last year’s long, hot summer. The extra sunlight has provided the plants more energy through photosynthesis.
guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the RHS, said: ‘The wafts of scent from winter flowers are at a scale and frequency I cannot remember experiencing before.’ He added that Britons could also see a record-breaking number of daffodils bloom next month.
‘gardeners’ hearts are in their mouths right now waiting to see what will happen with the daffodils,’ Mr Barter said.
The warm weather has already seen plants flowering early across the country – including daffodils in Devon in December.
‘Double the average temperatures’