UK weather: More spring sun in the south - but forecasters warn Britain to enjoy it while it lasts

Sunshine and temperatures set to drop off into 'more unsettled' weather later in the week

People enjoying the spring sunshine in central London, Sunday 16 March (PA)

As parts of the UK enjoyed unseasonably warm weather yet again today and temperatures beat those in Greece and Turkey, forecasters warned the public to enjoy it while it lasts.

Yesterday London saw a high of 19.3C in St James’s Park, and with more sunshine experts said the mercury was likely to reach similar levels on Sunday.

Met Office forecasters said that a period of high pressure means settled weather is expected for the rest of the week, but while it will remain dry the sunshine and warm temperatures are unlikely to last.

Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said those in the south should make the most of today's sun as “it won't be nearly as warm” next week.

Today was forecast to be cloudy across much of the west and into Wales, with some drizzle and thicker cloud in the north of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The highest temperature recorded for the UK so far this year was 20.5C (69F) in Gravesend, Kent, last Sunday.

And the unusually mild weather has led bookmakers to slash the odds of the March temperature record of 25.6C (78F) being broken this year, with Ladbrokes cutting the odds from 8/1 to 3/1/.

Londoners who think the capital will not see a drop of rain all month can get odds of 50/1.

And though conditions across the whole country are expected to become “more unsettled” from Tuesday onwards, if scientists in Germany are to be believed Britain has a strong chance of experiencing one of its hottest summers ever.

Experts at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany said that measurements showed the El Nino water currents were rising higher than usual, leading to hotter temperatures here.

According to the Mirror, they said that means there’s a 75 per cent chance this summer will be exceptionally warm.