UK weather: 17C predicted this weekend as Britain finally warms up

The south of England can expect some welcome relief from cold, damp weather

Temperatures could peak at 17C this week (Getty Images)

Parts of Britain could spend the weekend basking in temperatures of 17C, as a wave of high pressure is expected to send the mercury rising in southern England.

Much of the region could enjoy temperatures in the mid-teens on Saturday and Sunday, weeks after heavy downpours and gale-force winds flooded communities and created transport chaos.

The 17C weather would beat the current hottest day of the year so far, which saw highs of 14C in parts of London on 14 February.

The predicted temperatures are almost double the average 9C weather expected for this time of year.

John Lee, a forecaster with MeteoGroup said the weather "will be getting much better" as the weekend approaches.

"The south of England will be somewhat drier than we’ve had recently, with a wave of high pressure," he said.

"It means we’re looking at a forecast of up to 17C in London on Sunday."

The dry spell will no doubt come as welcome relief following the wettest winter on record in some parts, when the south-east and southern regions of England received more than twice their average rainfall – a combined total of 175.2mm, beating a previous record of 158.2mm in January 1988.

Read More: January rainfall breaks records for parts of England

It is estimated that around 5,500 homes were flooded from the Somerset Levels to the Thames Valley during the severe weather.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "High pressure building across the south of the country brings milder and more settled weather to the south and south east.

"The south east could see temperatures in the mid to late teens."

The warm weather is not forecast to reach more northern regions however. Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England can expect "changeable" and unsettled weather conditions, the Met Office said.