UK weather forecast – Easter set to be HOTTEST in 70 years as Brits bask in 26C bank holiday weekend scorcher
BRITS will be enjoying heat balmier than Barcelona on Easter Sunday as the mercury is tipped to top a record-breaking 26C.
The heatwave is set to bring Britain’s hottest Easter weekend for 70 years – and it is expected to last until Monday.
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It was a very Good Friday but it’s an extraordinary Easter weekend ahead.
“Eggs will be melting in all-time classic Easter holiday weather.”
Britain’s highest recorded Easter temperature to date was in 1949 at 29.4C in North London.
Helen Roberts of the Met Office said yesterday: “I think we’ll get to 26C on Easter Sunday and then by Easter Monday it could exceed 28C.”
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A Met Office forecaster said: “It’s going to be dry, bright and sunny for nearly everybody this weekend.
“Temperatures are expected to reach into the 20s every day of the four-day break.
“It is likely to be the warmest Easter Sunday since 2011 and the warmest Easter weekend since 1949.”
The heat is set to peak on Sunday and Monday with Londoners lapping up a blissful 26C.
LIFE’S A BEACH
Good Friday temperatures in the UK topped 24C in some areas as the warmest day of the year so far beat Europe’s sun spots.
The UK’s hottest area yesterday was 24.2C in Gosport, Hants.
Forecasters said the country was basking in a hot air plume arriving in time for the late Easter — but missing most of southern Europe.
Britain was yesterday warmer than Rome’s 22C, Barcelona and Athens at 21C and Malta’s 18C.
Sunseekers flocked to Bournemouth and to Weymouth beach in Dorset as people slapped on the factor 30.
Up to 50,000 visitors are set to visit Bournemouth over the weekend to soak up the Easter.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s Nicola Goode said: “With this being an extended weekend we could see even more than that over the coming days which is a real boost for the town.
“Drinks and refreshment sales on the beach will definitely see a huge spike as will sales of towels and swimming costumes in the town centre.
“A sunny bank holiday is so important to towns like Bournemouth as well as Poole and Christchurch nearby.”
In London, people gathered by The Thames to soak up the Easter sun.
And Brighton Beach was thronged with holidaying visitors from early on Friday as a 23C scorcher tempted thousands to hit the beach.
Another 75,000 flocked to the sands in Blackpool, 50,000 in Bournemouth and a similar number in Great Yarmouth.
Motorists heading to the seaside faced jams on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
Up to 750,000 visitors were expected in Cornwall this weekend.
There could be some light showers in central, southern, eastern Scotland and northern England – but most of the country will stay dry.
I think we’ll get to 26C on Easter Sunday and then by Easter Monday it could exceed 28C
Brian Gaze
Stoke-on-Trent will bask in sunshine as warm air from Greece pushes in.
The Midlands city could see temperatures hit 25C, while southern California will peak at just 19C.
Forecasters think the UK’s Easter Sunday record — 25.3C set in 2011 — could be smashed.
And temperatures may match the hottest ever Easter weekend — 29.4C on the Saturday in 1949.
This week sun worshippers across Britain have been enjoying a warm spell.
Average April temperatures are 11.4C.
But changes to the Jet Stream, which usually brings weather in from the west, means Britain will boil.
Supermarkets are bracing for a BBQ food rush.
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Asda is expecting to sell close to 750,000 burgers and 350,000 sausages. Sainsbury’s is set to see ice lolly sales quadruple.
But day-trippers will clog roads, with traffic jams due on coastal routes including the A23 to Brighton, A31 to Dorset, A30 to Cornwall and M55 to Blackpool.
Bank Holiday Monday is set to push 26C, with similar highs until Wednesday.
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