Mapped: Where temperatures in the UK could reach 25C this week

The UK will enjoy temperatures of up to 25°C this weekend, the hottest April month in six years, according to Met Office forecasters.

The conditions mark an unexpected departure from the snow seen over Easter Weekend and the severe storms of Storm Dave. Most of the country is forecast to experience high temperatures between 18C and 25C; This is well above the average of 12C to 15C in early April.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said the weather was “unusually warm” for this time of year, adding: “The average temperature should be around 15C.”

He said: “The wind is coming from the south and there aren’t too many clouds around, it should be well above average for early April.

“The last time we saw similar temperatures at this time of year was in 2020 when we reached 26C in Cornwall.”

The hottest conditions will be felt in London, with temperatures expected to reach 25 degrees by 5pm on Wednesday. It will also be 24C for Reading, 23C for Cambridge and 22C for Southampton as the southwest gets the most sunshine.

However, it will still be hot in the north; Manchester will reach 20C and Newcastle 19C.

Tuesday will be mostly dry and sunny, with windier conditions prevailing along the coast. Light showers are expected in the western parts of Wales and northwest Scotland in the afternoon.

Although Wednesday is set to be warmer than Tuesday, the Met Office has warned of a “major change” on Thursday when temperatures are expected to drop to between 10C and 13C.

It is estimated that temperatures will remain at these levels in the south over the weekend.

A Met Office spokesman said: “At this time of year it all depends on the direction of the wind.

“Over the next few days, we’ll be driving that warm, south wind that will see temperatures reach the mid-20s.

“As we head into Thursday we will see temperatures return to normal times of year as we see the weather become more variable with increased rainfall and showers.”

Here is Meteorology’s forecast for the next five days:

Today

A dry and sunny day for most. More cloudy in Northern Ireland and Western Scotland, with some risk of rain there in the afternoon. Although the wind will be breezy on some coasts, temperatures will be well above average for the beginning of April on many coasts.

Tonight

Rain will continue in western and some northern parts of Scotland. Otherwise, it’s dry with open spells elsewhere. A few patches of fog are forming in southern England.

Wednesday

There is again plenty of warm sunshine across much of England and Wales, with temperatures well above average. While Northern Ireland and Scotland are mostly dry, it’s often cloudier here.

View from Thursday to Saturday

It will become increasingly rainy and windy in the north and west on Thursday. The southeast is likely to remain hot and dry. Friday and Saturday are colder, wetter and windier for everyone.