The UK has experienced its warmest April 7 on record, with temperatures reaching 24.8C in Mona, Anglesey, north Wales, according to the Met Office. Wednesday is expected to be even hotter, particularly in central and south-east England, where temperatures could hit 26C—well above the early April average of 12C to 15C.
By 4pm, London is set to be hotter than Cairo, Athens, Tunis, and Dubai, according to BBC weather maps. The Met Office confirmed this is the highest temperature of the year so far and noted that higher temperatures are likely as spring progresses.
The warm weather coincides with school Easter holidays, drawing crowds to beaches across the country. Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said the city is seeing many visitors enjoying the sunshine on the beach and seafront attractions. Weymouth Town Council also reported a busy beach, with a spokesperson saying, 'Roll on summer!'
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council reminded visitors to follow safety advice, including RNLI water safety guidelines and restrictions on disposable BBQs. Webcams captured crowds at Lyme Regis beach in Dorset.
Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen described the warmth as a 'brief but notable spell' typical of late spring or early summer, possibly the warmest at this point in April since 2020. However, he warned of a sharp drop in temperatures later this week, with daytime temperatures falling by around 10C between Wednesday and Thursday.
