Temperatures will hit 20C in parts (Image: Getty)
The UK is set to bask in sunshine this week with highs of 20C in parts. New weather data by WXCharts.com shows large parts of the country turning yellow as sunny weather and blue skies finally arrives over the country.
According to the forecasters, the South East will turn hot on Thursday with Kent set to see the warmest of the weather, with 20C in Canterbury. The hot weather could be accompanied by showers in parts of the country, with a mix of rain and sunshine across much of the UK. A Met Office forecast for Wednesday to Friday said: “Showers or more persistent rain, and brisk winds on Wednesday. However, feeling warm in any brighter breaks.
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Temperatures will be warmest in southern England (Image: WXCharts.com)
“Sunshine and showers on Thursday. Further rain arriving in the west on Friday.”
According to weather maps from WXCharts.com, the warm weather will be largely consigned to the South East, with the remainder of the country seeing temperatures in the mid to low teens.
A Met Office forecast for Friday onwards added: “The southeast is likely to be driest and brightest.
“Later in this period, conditions may become drier and more settled, perhaps more especially in the north or northwest, with the south possibly becoming the focus for showers or longer spells of rain.
“Temperatures will likely be near or slightly above average overall.”
Despite the hot temperatures, the ‘mini heatwave’ is not technically classed as such according to the Met Office.
In a statement on their website, they clarified: “It only counts as an official heatwave if temperatures meet or exceed specific thresholds set for each UK county, for at least three consecutive days, so not every brief spell of hot weather qualifies.”
The hot weather will be accompanied by sporadic showers (Image: WXCharts.com)
Temperatures will be cooler on Friday but still warm (Image: WXCharts.com)
The hot weather comes after the tenth warmest March on record, according to provisional Met Office statistics.
Wales saw its joint fourth warmest and England its joint sixth warmest March – with both nations experiencing their warmest March since 2017.
Commenting on the provisional figures, Met Office Scientist, Dr Emily Carlisle, said: “March has delivered some notably warm weather for England and Wales in particular, alongside plenty of sunshine and near-average rainfall overall.
“While those milder conditions will have stood out for many, the month has still delivered a mix of weather across the UK, including more unsettled spells and even snow for some.
“This variability is entirely typical for March, a month of transition when lingering winter influences can sit alongside the increasing warmth of spring.”