Britain Braces for Warmest Day of the Year as Temperatures Set to Soar to 19C
The United Kingdom is poised to experience its warmest day of the year so far, with the Met Office predicting temperatures could climb as high as 19 degrees Celsius on Thursday. This marks the first time this year that above-average temperatures have been forecast, with highs of 18C to 19C expected in some regions and 16C to 17C anticipated more widely across the country.
Mixed Weather Patterns Across the Nation
However, the warm spell will not be uniform. Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick noted that a band of cloud and rain is set to move eastwards from western parts of the country. 'To the east of that, it should be mostly fine,' she explained. 'There should be lots of long sunny periods until that rain starts pushing into the east.'
This comes after Kew Gardens recorded temperatures of 18.7C earlier, but its title for the warmest day of the year could be surpassed on Thursday. Looking ahead, much of England and Wales are forecast to experience cloudier weather on Friday, with temperatures expected to drop to between 11C and 12C.
Regional Variations and Weekend Outlook
In contrast, Northern Ireland and Scotland are anticipated to enjoy sunshine during the first week of meteorological spring. 'It's the first week of meteorological spring so not a bad forecast,' Ms Criswick added. The weekend will bring a mix of patchy cloud and some sunshine, with highs of 12C to 13C on Saturday and around 14C on Sunday.
Reflecting on a Wet and Dull February
This warm spell follows a notably dull and wet February, which the Met Office confirmed was one of the wettest and least sunny on record. Across the UK, February was 23 percent wetter than average, with England experiencing 70 percent more rain than usual. Worcestershire recorded its wettest February ever.
Met Office Science Manager Dr Amy Doherty commented on the seasonal contrasts: 'February's mild and notably dull conditions have brought a winter of considerable contrasts to a close. While February itself stood out for its exceptionally low sunshine and above average temperatures, the broader winter picture shows just how varied conditions have been around the UK.'
She highlighted that southern and central areas faced persistent rainfall, leading to saturated ground and some of the wettest winters on record, while parts of northern and western Scotland were markedly drier—an unusual reversal for typically wet regions.
Temperature and Sunshine Records
In terms of temperature, February was the ninth warmest on record, with particularly mild nights. Notably, 21 counties recorded their highest February minimum temperature ever. Sunshine was scarce, with the UK experiencing its fourth dullest February and Wales its dullest ever, due to dominant cloud-bearing Atlantic systems.
Dr Doherty explained: 'This year, it was eastern Scotland that saw above average rainfall, highlighting an unusual reversal of the pattern normally expected, and demonstrating the strong regional differences that can develop within a season. Taken together, the winter and February figures highlight the influence of a predominantly Atlantic weather pattern and the pronounced variability that can characterise the UK climate.'
