Brits take in 22C temperatures as they flock to seashores, parks and pub gardens – as Met Office reveals London Marathon forecast
Britons flocked to beaches, parks and pub gardens after temperatures reached 22C, as the Met Office reveals the forecast for this year’s London Marathon.
People across the country, from Dorset to London, have grabbed their towels and pints to soak up the much welcomed sunshine.
The dry, sunny and warm conditions will continue throughout this weekend as around 59,000 runners take to the streets of London – including actor and Wicked star Cynthia Evrio and McFly‘s Harry Judd.
Sunday is forecast to reach 20C in the capital, while Scotland and Northern Ireland will be cloudier with showers.
The downpours, in some areas heavy, will continue in the north and east of the UK on Monday.
Beachgoers were scattered across the Dorset coast on Saturday, including in Bournemouth, while the more adventurous kayaked in the holiday park of West Bay.
While city dwellers soaked in the rays in the capital’s parks, including Wimbledon Common in southwest London, and on the southern bank of the River Thames.
The Met Office said: ‘Much of the UK today saw dry weather with plenty of sunshine.
Beachgoers enjoyed a warm and sunny Saturday on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset
City dwellers sprawled across Wimbledon Common, southwest London, as temperatures reached highs of 22C
Sea kayakers made the most of the good weather as they prepared to take to the water at West Bay on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
Londoners enjoyed the weather on the southern bank of the River Thames, as they looked out on to the City of London on Saturday
Horse riders passed through Wimbledon village in the sunshine on Saturday
‘The northeast of Scotland and northeast England were cloudier and cooler. Highs reached 22.5C’
It said on Saturday night ‘cloud will thicken across some areas, with a few fog patches’.
‘Patchy frost’ was forecast alongside dry conditions in the countryside, with ‘lows of -1C or -2C’.
While the day is ‘generally cloudier’ on Sunday, the Met Office said: ‘There will be some hazy spells of sunshine, the best of these across southern England and Wales.
‘The risk of some showers, mainly across Scotland. Highs reaching 21C or 22C.’
London is forecast to have sunny spells, while runners should prepare for rising temperatures in the late morning and early afternoon as they take on the 26.1-mile route.
Forecasters said: ‘Sunday’s London Marathon is likely to take place under largely dry and settled conditions.
‘After a cool, potentially misty start, brighter spells should develop and temperatures will rise to feel warm for many by the afternoon.
‘Light winds and dry weather point towards pleasant, spring-like day overall, well-suited to one of the capital’s biggest sporting events.’
The 2018 London Marathon was officially the hottest on record.
More than 40,000 runners ran the race in temperatures of 24.1C, which was recorded in St James’s Park.
Next week, conditions are forecast to ‘stay largely dry with sunny spells’. The Met Office said: ‘There is a risk of a few showers, mainly on Monday.
‘Maximum temperatures generally around 17-20C, so remaining above average.’
