UK weather forecast LIVE: Brits pack out parks and beaches as lockdown easing continues on Monday
Brits have flocked to parks and beaches today for a taste of freedom ahead of the easing of lockdown restrictions on Monday.
The country is set for a scorching 24C heatwave as the Rule of Six returns next week.
Londoners were pictured out and about on Wimbledon Common taking advantage of the crisp, dry weather this morning.
The Met Office said the mercury could rise to 24C in south-east England by Tuesday, which could make it only the second day in March that the temperature has reached this high in records going back to 1884.
Both Coral and Ladbrokes have slashed their odds, predicting this spring will be the warmest ever in the UK.
Read our live blog below for the latest weather news and updates…
- Alice Fuller
COASTAL FUN
Paddleboarders hit the waves in Dorset today as the sun shone down on the coast.
This pair were spotted at Lyme Regis enjoying the warm spring weather.
Credit: ©Graham Hunt - Alice Fuller
NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said the weekend should be a mixed bag for many with a big north-south split.
He added: "Saturday will certainly be the better of the two days, with Sunday becoming windy and grey for most."
Mr Dewhurst said southerly winds along with an area of high pressure would move in on Monday.
He continued: "Into next week large swathes of southern England and Wales will be dry with warmer temperatures than expected for this time of year, the average for March being 11-12C.
"The mercury could reach a high of around 18C on Monday, with Tuesday seeing highs of 24C (75.2F). Much of the UK will remain dry and bright until Wednesday, while parts of Scotland will see some heavy showers."
- Alice Fuller
PARKS PACKED TODAY
Brits flocked to parks and beaches today for a taste of freedom ahead of the easing of lockdown restrictions on Monday.
The country is set for a scorching 24C heatwave as the Rule of Six returns next week.
Londoners were pictured out and about on Wimbledon Common taking advantage of the crisp, dry weather this morning.
The promenade at Hastings, East Sussex was also packed with Brits out exercising in the glorious sunshine.
And in Edinburgh, cold water swimmers enjoyed a gorgeous sunrise on Portobello beach.
- Alice Fuller
TONIGHT'S FORECAST
The Met Office said: "Apart from an isolated shower at first, many southern parts dry, but turning cloudier later.
"Rain, already over north-western parts, sinking into central areas, followed by showers in the north.
"Windy, with gales in the north."
- Alice Fuller
BRITS HIT THE BEACH
Locked-down Brits relaxed on beaches across the UK today as the sun finally showed itself.
Groups gathered on the pebbles in Brighton, ahead of the expected warm weather spell next week.
Credit: PA - Alice Fuller
SUNSEEKER SNAKE WARNING
An urgent warning has gone out to sunseekers after the warmer weather lured Britain's only species of poisonous snake out of winter hibernation.
Adders have been spotted around the countryside, including several basking in the sun on the clifftop paths at Kynance Cove on The Lizard peninsula, owned by the National Trust, at the far tip of Cornwall.
Only a foot to 18 inches long, their venom can put people in hospital though they rarely attack unless they feel threatened or they're defending their young.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly coastguards said "The National Trust rangers out near Kynance Cove and some other local agencies have reported that adders have woken up and have been seen enjoying the sunshine.
"If you think you have been bitten by a snake out on the coast path and need medical assistance call 999 and ask for immediate help. Telling the doctors the colour and pattern of the snake that bit you could help them treat it. Adders are grey or reddish-brown, with a dark zig-zag shaped stripe down their back."
- Alice Fuller
POSSIBLE RECORD-HIGH MARCH TEMPERATURES NEXT WEEK
The UK could break its record high March temperature next week following a "mixed" weekend, forecasters have said.
Parts of the UK will be hotter than Saint Tropez and Ibiza as the mercury could rise to 24C in south-east England by Tuesday.
It would be only the second day in March that the temperature has reached this high in records going back to 1884.
The maximum temperature recorded in March was 25.6C (78F), on March 29 1968 at Mepal in Cambridgeshire.
- Jon Rogers
NORTH AND WEST TO REMAIN WINDY AND WET
The North and Western parts of the UK will remain wet and windy this evening, the Met Office says.
In a Twitter update from the forecaster it said: "Increasingly wet and windy across much of the north and west of the UK this evening, but it should remain largely dry further south and east."
- Jon Rogers
CLOUD COVERING NI AND FAR NORTHWEST SCOTLAND
The latest satellite image from the Met Office shows a large blanket of cloud covering Northern Ireland and the far Northwest of Scotland.
In an update the forecaster said: "For most of us it is dry and fine with sunny spells.
"In the west we can see a big ribbon of frontal #cloud which is bringing wind and rain to Northern Ireland and the far west of Scotland."
A large band of cloud is bringing rain to Northern Ireland and the Northwest of Scotland
- Claudia Aoraha
BRITISH SUMMERTIME STARTS ON SUNDAY
Don't forget to put the clocks forward by an hour tonight.
- Claudia Aoraha
LATEST UPDATE FROM THE MET OFFICE
Here's what the weather is like this afternoon, from the Met Office.
"A lot of dry weather at first, with some sunny spells and just the odd shower.
"Turning wetter and windier in the northwest as the afternoon progresses."
- Jon Rogers
CURRENT HOTTEST MARCH TEMPERATURE
Temperatures are set to hit the 24C mark next week with the arrival of a mini-heatwave.
With temperatures in the UK expected to be hotter than Ibiza or St Tropez, the UK's existing top temperature in March looks as if it could be under threat.
Thehighest temperature recorded in March was 25.6C, on March 29 1968 at Mepal in Cambridgeshire.
Large crowds gather on Putney riverside in the spring sunshine - Jon Rogers
BRITS HEAD TO PARKS AND BEACHES BEFORE LOCKDOWN EASING ON MONDAY
Brits have flocked to parks and beaches today for a taste of freedom ahead of the easing of lockdown restrictions on Monday.
The country is set for a scorching 24C heatwave as the Rule of Six returns next week.
Londoners were pictured out and about on Wimbledon Common taking advantage of the crisp, dry weather this morning.
The promenade at Hastings, East Sussex was also packed with Brits out exercising in the glorious sunshine.
Read the full story here.
- Jon Rogers
CLOUDY START TO NEXT WEEK
Monday will be largely cloudy across northern and and western areas with outbreaks of rain for northern Britain.
Dry and sunny across southern England, the Meteogroup has predicted.
It will be cloudy with rain for Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday but dry with lengthy spells of sunshine further south. Feeling warm.
- Jon Rogers
SUNNY SPELLS THIS AFTERNOON BUT RAIN EXPECTED
There will be dry weather with sunny spells first thing this afternoon but it will become wetter later on in the Northwest.
The Met Office gave an update on the weather later today, saying: "A lot of dry weather at first, with some sunny spells and just the odd shower.
"Turning wetter and windier in the northwest as the afternoon progresses."
This afternoon will start off dry with sunny spells
- Jon Rogers
'HACKING' GLACIERS COULD HELP AVERT CLIMATE CHANGE
As global warming tightens its grip on our planet, scientists are cooking up creative ways to curb the most damaging effects of the climate crisis.
One means of inhibiting dramatic sea level rises over the next century, for instance, involves "hacking" glaciers to taper the amount of water they’re pumping into our oceans.
n a recent study, an international team of scientists led by University College London outlined nine techniques that could be employed to slow glacial melting across the teetering ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.
The schemes would employ “geo-engineering” – controversial, wide-scale technologies that artificially alter the Earth’s climate.
Read our exclusive here.
- Jon Rogers
OVERCAST START TO SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday will be largely overcast to start the day with outbreaks of rain which tend to become confined to northern England, Wales and parts of the Midlands during the day.
There will be scattered showers across western Scotland which will merge into longer spells of rain during the evening, the Meteogroup predicts.
- Jon Rogers
HOTTEST EASTER EVER – BOOKIES
Ladbrokes has slashed its odds on it being the hottest Easter ever in the UK.
The bookies now make it an odds-on shot.
Having been a 6/4 shot earlier this week, the bookies now make next weekend 10/11 to go down as the hottest Easter on record.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "It's looking increasingly likely next weekend will play host to the hottest Easter Sunday ever."
- Jon Rogers
OUTBREAKS OF RAIN IN NORTH THIS EVENING
Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect outbreaks of rain this evening, according to the latest forecast from the Meteogroup.
Overnight will be generally overcast and cloudy with rain across northern areas slowly sinking south-eastwards into Wales and the Midlands by dawn.
Rain will be heavy at times.
- Jon Rogers
ODDS SLASHED ON WARMEST SPRING EVER IN THE UK THIS YEAR
Bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds to just 2-1 that this spring is the UK's warmest ever.
Coral go 3-1 for this summer to be the hottest on record in the UK.
"We're going to go through a spell of cold weather now but once that is out the way the temperatures are going to soar and we think there's every chance now of this spring being our warmest ever," said Coral's Harry Aitkenhead.
- Jon Rogers
CHILLY BUT BRIGHT START TO SATURDAY
It's a chilly but bright start to Saturday with temperatures in single figures.
The Met Office said in a Twitter update: "Are you waking up to blue skies and sunshine?
"For many of us, #SaturdayMorning will be the best part of the day, with skies clouding over somewhat later.
"It's a chilly start though with temperatures still widely in mid single figures."
Temperatures are in single figures this morning
- Abe Hawken
TODAY'S FORECAST
The Met Office said: "Any early showers, perhaps wintry, fading quickly, with many areas dry and bright, although more cloud for many by afternoon.
"A chilly start but temperatures near normal by afternoon.
"Cloud and strengthening winds in the northwest heralding a wet evening."
- Debbie White
MET OFFICE WEATHER MAPS FOR SUNDAY
- Debbie White
DIP IN EASTER WEEKEND TEMPERATURES
From Saturday the northern half of Britain "will see strong winds and heavy rain, especially in parts of Western Scotland where a yellow warning for rain will be in force for 48 hours from 6pm on Sunday evening," said Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page
"However, in sheltered central and southern parts of the UK, weather conditions will be much calmer with temperatures climbing in the March sunshine to highs into the low 20s, with the possibility of 24C in south-east England by Tuesday," he added.
The Met Office said that the weather is expected to change again from the middle of the week, with signs that cold air from the north could bring another dip in temperatures for Easter weekend.
There is also the risk of some wintry showers in the North East, forecasters added.
- Debbie White
SUB-ZERO TEMPS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
Friday will be a cold night with some areas dipping down to minus 1C or minus 2C.
There will be some wintry showers in places with some lying snow possible over hills further north, while Saturday will start off cold with a risk of frost.
The northern half of Britain will see strong winds and heavy rain, particularly in parts of western Scotland where a Yellow warning for rain is in force for 48 hours from 6pm on Sunday.
People in these regions can expect to see 80-100mm of rainfall with the potential for 150-250mm over the highest ground, the Met Office said.
Meanwhile, in sheltered central and southern parts of the UK the weather will be calmer, with temperatures climbing to highs in the low 20Cs, it added.
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