UK weather forecast: Temperatures to enter 20s by Easter bank holiday after cold start to week

Warm weather could bring hottest days of the year so far this weekend

The UK is set to see glorious sunshine this Easter weekend with temperatures exceeding 20C and potentially the hottest days of the year so far, according to the Met Office.

Temperatures will rise throughout the week, resulting in a dry and warm bank holiday weekend throughout much of the country.

The warm weather will be a sharp change from the chilly spell that started the week.

Last night, areas across the country saw temperatures drop below zero with a freezing low of -2.9C recorded in Suffolk.

However, the cold weather was due to give way to highs of 15C and plenty of sunshine on Monday.

The hottest day of the year so far was on 26 February, when temperatures reached 21.2C, but the incoming warm weather could change that.

“We do have the potential to beat that,” Sophie Yeomans, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said.

“Towards the bank holiday, we’ll see temperatures go up and by Friday, we could see temperatures go up to 20C or 21-22C.”

Ms Yeomans noted there was more uncertainty for Easter Sunday as temperatures could drop a little bit lower, but the warm weather is well above average for this time of year.

Average temperatures for Easter are around 11-12C, she said.

Forecaster Simon Partridge agreed that warm weather is on the way, but said clouds could usher in some cooler temperatures in the northwest and some parts of the east coast.

Mr Partridge said: “After there was a chilly spell this weekend, we are going to see temperatures gradually increase through the week.

“By the weekend we could see in parts of the country temperatures of around 20C, or just above.”

The warm weather was forecast for the south of England as well as western Scotland and the northwest of England.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst explained what was causing the change in temperatures.

He said: “Atlantic frontal systems are trying to move in from the west. However, we do still have a large blocking area of high pressures.

“As we move through the week, we’ll see this winning out, we’ll start to see the winds turn around to a south-easterly and this is going to draw in warmer air from the near-continent.”

Agencies contributed to this report