After weeks of non-stop rain, weathercasters say summer-like temperatures are coming months early with the mercury set to nudge the 18°C hottest day of the year
Britain will be hotter than Turkey as spring starts with five days of sun from Monday (March 2), thanks to an 800 mile-wide French heat plume. After weeks of non-stop rain, weathercasters say summer-like temperatures are coming months early, with the mercury set to nudge the 18°C hottest day of the year.
Maximums this week will be up to 8°C above the usual 10°C peaks at this time of year. Britain will consequently be hotter than 12°C Istanbul, Turkey, with sunny and dry skies from Monday and through the week in the South amid warm air from France.
Temperatures will push the 18.7°C warmest day of the year, set last Wednesday at Kew, London.
Even the North is due 14°C, but it will be cloudier, with showers at times. After a gloomier weekend, forecasters said next week looks mild with sunny spells.
This week’s warm-up comes after winter finished with a -8°C weekend chiller in Scotland, with soakings for some on Sunday (March 1). Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said: “The UK will be mild and more settled to start spring.
“There is unseasonably warm weather in northern Europe, with temperatures typically reaching average highs for late May or early June.” A Met Office forecaster said: “After a very wet winter for many, the beginning of spring is drier with temperatures above average.
“High pressure will often be in charge, especially towards the South, with many places seeing plenty of dry weather with some sunshine.
“Frontal systems are still likely to affect the north and west of the UK at times.” While seeing temperatures reach 18°C in early March is above average for the UK, it’s not unheard of.
For comparison, typical daytime peaks in early March are around 10°C, so hitting 18°C is about 8°C above normal.
However, the UK’s all-time March record is much higher at 25.6°C, set in 1968, and as recently as 2021, temperatures soared to 24.5°C at the end of March.
This current warm spell is thanks to a southerly wind bringing mild air from the Azores and North Africa, often carrying Saharan dust.
While 18°C this early in March is still exceptional, the Met Office points out that these early warm spells are becoming more common, with 2026 expected to be one of the hottest years globally.
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