UK climate sees Brits hit by 2,000-mile-wide ‘blue skies heat dome’ as Easter hots up
A 2,000-mile-wide heat dome is set to make Britain hotter than Australia, bringing wall-to-wall sunshine and temperatures up to 24C just in time for Easter
Britain is set to be hotter than Australia with more soaring temperatures on the way in the run-up to Easter. A giant 2,000-mile-wide ‘blue skies heat dome’ this week will bring temperatures of 23C and plenty of sun just in time for the school holidays.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: “It’s wall-to-wall sunshine for many in the days ahead.” The sweltering temperatures will nudge the 24C hottest day of the year – last Friday’s 23.7C – as they climb through the week.
It means awesome April weather for the Easter break, as 17C highs – already 4C above average – climb to 23C or 24C by Friday, staying warm for the weekend.
The North is due to reach 21C, making it hotter than 19C Melbourne, where it is the end of summer. Cloudless Britain will enjoy up to 12 hours of sun every day as high pressure stretches from Finland to Ireland.
Even Martin Clunes cooled off with an ice cream as temperatures climb towards a record Easter high. The Doc Martin star enjoyed the sunshine at the opening of a charity “mermaid tail” trail in Sherbourne, Dorset.
BBC weatherman Darren Bett said: “After a weekend of temperatures well above normal, it is expected to warm up further again.”
But a thunderstorms shock is on the way early next week, with 50mph gales due in the South and West.
Then it is expected that the Easter long weekend from Good Friday will see a mix of sunny spells and some showers, with 17C highs. A Met Office forecaster said: “High pressure will maintain fine weather with plenty of warm sunshine.
“After the coming weekend, a gradual change to a more unsettled regime is likely, with rain at times, which could be heavy and thundery, with strong winds possible particularly in the South and West.
“More settled conditions are likely during the last part of April with temperatures are expected to be above average.”
But the good news is more warm weather won’t be far away, as the Met Office said sizzles are set to return again in late April.
