UK weather forecast: Easter weekend to bring 26C temperatures before ‘intense’ rain, thunder and lightning

Health secretary says weekend will be ‘test of nation’s resolve’ as he warns people to stay indoors

People have been urged to stay at home as temperatures are expected to soar to 26C.

The Easter weekend got off to a warm start with temperatures reaching 25C in Bude, Cornwall, on Good Friday.

But the public is being asked to stay away from parks and beaches as the weather gets even hotter on Saturday.

Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said London could see 26C, while the rest of the UK will see temperatures in the low 20s quite widely.

Somewhere like Aberdeen in northern Scotland is likely to see temperatures of 18C to 19C.

Thunderstorms could bring heavy rainfall and lightning on Easter Sunday before temperatures cool dramatically in to next week.

Mr Keates told The Independent: “There will be quite a lot of nice weather around again today, with warm sunshine around much of England and Wales, including some of eastern and southern Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

“There could be a smattering of showers this afternoon, including a few heavy showers and the odd rumble of thunder, but it will be hit and miss and most places staying dry.

“Sunday generally speaking is a more unsettled day, with outbreaks of rain in Scotland and Northern Ireland and perhaps Wales and southwest England. It will be breezier and slightly cloudier than recent days.

“There is a greater chance of heavier thunderstorms breaking out tomorrow and there could be some quite intense rainfall and lightning.”

It will be a warm day again on Easter Sunday, with temperatures of about 24C to 25C in the South East, but it will start to get cooler, particularly in Scotland and northern England.

Monday will see the start of a brief cold snap, with temperatures of 12C to 13C making it markedly cooler than recent days.

“You will really feel the difference if you do step outside and there will be quite a brisk wind but back to a mostly dry story,” said Mr Keates.

“It will be a chillier day Tuesday with some overnight frost into Wednesday but after a few chilly days with a nagging wind for some of us temperatures will gradually pick up, so it will be a brief cold snap.”

Health secretary Matt Hancock said the Easter bank holiday weekend – which is usually one of the busiest of the year on the roads – will be a “test of the nation’s resolve” as he warned people to stay at home during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.