Sunny spells and warmer than average weather is set to continue into the weekend across the UK.
Wednesday was the hottest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 20.9C recorded in Gogerddan near Aberystwyth and 20.2C at Northolt, London.
Although temperatures are not forecast to reach 20C again this weekend, warm weather in the mid to high teens is still expected.
On Thursday temperatures are set to reach 17C in London and Manchester and drop slightly to highs of 15C on Friday, which is also the spring equinox.
The Met Office has also forecast warm temperatures with highs of 16C in Manchester on Saturday and temperatures reaching highs of 14C across most of England on Sunday.
The warm and sunny spells come after colder Arctic air pushed temperatures down over the last few days.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the higher temperatures are because of warm air being dragged up from further south in Europe.
Mr Madge said: “We get this a lot at this time of year, we sometimes joke the warmest day of the year klaxon is going off every day.
“I think this will be the peak for a while today, we are not expecting any further records in the next week or so.”
He added: “The values that have been reached today will probably be a high watermark for some little time to come.”
Met Office weather forecast for the week
Today:
Cloudy and cool across parts of northern England and southern Scotland, with occasional light drizzle. Sunnier to the south across England and Wales, and fine with sunny spells elsewhere. Temperatures remain above average, though slightly lower than on Wednesday.
Tonight:
Cloudy for southeast Scotland and northeast England, especially near coasts and spreading inland overnight. Elsewhere, clear spells bring a chilly night with some mist and fog patches in prone spots.
Friday:
Early mist or fog clearing into a fine, warm day with light winds. Sunshine for most, though the far north and northwest turn cloudier and breezier later with patchy rain.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
The weekend starts mostly sunny and dry for many. Bands of rain move southeast from Scotland later, followed by colder, showery, windy conditions in the north into Monday.
