Weekend of sunshine as UK becomes a hotspot

Published on 24/03/2012 01:24

PARTS of Scotland will bask in 16C sunshine this weekend as UK temperatures top those of many European destinations.

London is expected to be warmer than Madrid, Rome and Athens as much of the UK enjoys balmy weather.

Matt Dobson, meteorologist at MeteoGroup, said even parts of western Scotland could be treated to sunny weather.

He said today “is looking like the warmest day of the weekend”.

“With the highest temperatures in west London and across the M4 corridor towards Bristol, we are looking at 19 or 20C, possibly 21C,” he added.

“In the north, temperatures in Cumbria could get to 18C and western Scotland could get to 16C.”

He added: “While we are expecting 20 to 21C here, it will be 20C in Madrid, and 19 to 20C in Rome and Athens so it will be warmer than most of the Med destinations.

“Further afield, it is only 18 to 20C in Melbourne in Australia, but it is their autumn while it is our spring.”

However, not all of the country will be so lucky with the weather, Mr Dobson said.

“It will be much cooler in eastern parts of Suffolk and the North Sea coast with temperatures between eight and ten degrees.

“It will be misty and murky at times, so head west for the best of the weather.”

“On Sunday, north and west Devon, west Wales and Cornwall will have the best of the weather at a degree cooler than the day before and 16 or 17C in London.”

On Thursday, the temperature topped 20C for the first time in the UK this year.

Michael Lawrence, forecaster at the Met Office, said the good weather is set to continue past the weekend.

“The near outlook looks to be high pressure near and over the UK for much of the next five to seven days, with frost still possible but less likely,” he said.