UK weather: Hottest day of year predicted before thunderstorms hit Britain

Calm period will not last long, Met Office says

The temperature in the UK is expected to rise throughout the week ahead of what could be the hottest day of the year so far.

The mercury is expected to rise as high as 25C on Tuesday and 29C on Wednesday, beating the 26.6C recorded in Treknow, Cornwall, on Good Friday.

It comes after parts of the UK saw the temperature recorded at 24.2C on Monday, making it hotter than tourist hot spots such as California, Ibiza and Malibu.

The period of sunny weather is likely to test people’s resolve in maintaining social distancing in parks and open spaces after two months of lockdown.

However, the period of calm will “not last for very long”, Met Office spokesperson Oli Claydon said, with thunderstorms expected on Thursday.

“Tomorrow we could see the hottest day of the year so far,” Mr Claydon told The Independent.

“It could be potentially 28C, maybe 29C, in London. It will generally be a warm day with lots of sunshine for much of the UK.”

But he said a cold front would move in from the west on Thursday, bringing rainfall and the chance of thunderstorms across the south of the country.

The storms are expected to lash southern England and Wales with frequent lightning, hail and torrential downpours as they move into the south-east later in the evening.

Meanwhile, much of Scotland will see further showers or rain, with strong winds and a risk of gales.

Mr Cladyon said the weather would settle over the weekend, with temperatures about 20C on Saturday and 22C on Sunday.

However, the temperatures in Scotland could remain unsettled.