Britain hotter than Africa as 600 mile-wide plume brings hottest day of the yr
The UK is set to bask in some rays as temperatures are set to soar to 21C on Thursday, which could mean the hottest day of the year so far and potentially even hotter than parts of Africa
Blue skies Britain is set to be even hotter than Corfu as temperatures soar to 21C on Thursday. The country is expected to enjoy the hottest day of the year which will make it warmer than northern Africa too.
Sunbathers will be out in force and beer gardens will be packed as revellers make the most of the heat, which is being brought by a 600 mile-wide ‘Spanish plume’. The 21C high, 11C above normal, is due to beat the 19.7C hottest day of the year which was set on March 9 in Crosby, Merseyside.
And it could even be the hottest first day of spring for 160 years if it tops 21.5C. A Met Office forecaster said: “Temperatures are on the up and up, feeling warm in most areas.
“Winds are swinging to southerly, drawing in sunnier air from the continent.”
The UK will enjoy higher temperatures than 16C Corfu, Greece, and the 18C in Rabat, Morocco. Northern parts are due to enjoy 19C on Thursday.
Forecasters from MetDesk said: “A glorious few days are to come for the UK, with long spells of sunshine.”
The North is due to see 20C on Friday while southern areas will see around 18C temperatures, with some showers and the threat of the first thunderstorms of year.
Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis warned: “The first thundery plume of the year could see thundery showers reach southern England on Friday.”
A mixed 16C weekend follows for all, with rain at times.
The Star previously reported that a blast of heat in late March will start British Summer Time in style.
The country will see a return to this weekend’s glorious sunshine from March 23, according to forecasters, with highs of 21C. Sunworshippers just need to see through this week’s ‘polar plunge’, which will see temperatures plummet to 12C and bring two inches of snow per hour in some parts.
But warmer climes are on the way, and just in time for the hour going forward on March 30. A Met Office forecaster said: “From March 23 to April 6, temperatures will probably be above average, with a transition to more frequent drier and settled spells.”
It comes after a balmy 20C weekend in Saharan air, which meant Britain was hotter than popular holiday destinations like Ibiza and Marbella. But Brits will soon be swapping sunbathing for scarves, as the seven day chill will bring nationwide frost and lows of -6C in Scotland.
