Yahoo Finance 'First hints of spring': Temperatures to hit 17C in London this week, says Met Office
Temperatures in London are forecast to hit 17C this week as the UK enjoys the first hints of spring.
The Met Office predicted the capital would see a high of 17C on Wednesday and again on Friday.
The rest of the UK will also bask in temperatures well into the teens, forecasters said, as the warm weather continues.
The temperatures would be well above the averages for February. The average February temperature for the whole of the UK is 6.6C and 8.4C for London, although it should be noted these cover the whole of the month.
The warmer weather is in stark contrast to conditions just a few weeks ago, when the UK battled snow and ice, and the lowest UK temperature since 1995, -23C, was recorded at Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
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Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said temperatures of 16C and 17C are possible in London on Wednesday.
“The mild theme will continue for the rest of this week and for some it’s going to get very mild, especially in midweek,” he said.
Watch: Lowest UK temperature since 1995 recorded
“For all parts of the UK the end of the week looks an awful lot drier and brighter as well with some sunshine coming through.”
While Thursday could be “a bit of a damp day across parts of southern England and south Wales”, temperatures will still reach 14C in London, before the sun is set to return on Friday, he said.
“High pressure gradually building up from the south-west will bring for many parts of the UK a fine Friday and probably last into the weekend,” said Deakin.
“Most places on Friday are set fair and dry with sunny spells and temperatures once more on the rise up into double digits or beyond.”
Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said: “With continued southerly winds, mild temperatures are forecast for much of the UK, with highs of 14C to 16C in the south and east through the week.
More heavy #rain 🌧️ tomorrow but signs of drier weather to end the week 🌤️ Here's Alex with a look at what we can expect pic.twitter.com/C4YxMvXauS
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 22, 2021
“As the system moves through by the middle of the week, high pressure moves in and this will bring more settled conditions into the weekend, with good spells of sunshine it could feel like the first hints of spring.”
However, wet and windy conditions are forecast for Tuesday across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north-west of England.
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Up to 120mm of rain could fall bringing the risk of flooding, the Met Office said.
It has issued yellow and amber warnings for rain and wind in those regions for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Page said: “The front bringing the persistent rain to the North West will slowly sink south and east through Wednesday, having lost most of its energy it will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain as it moves through Wales and the rest of England.
“Through Thursday, brighter conditions will move in from the west, although further cloud and showers will affect the far north west.
“It will remain mild through the week, with temperatures up to 14C to 16C possible primarily in the South East, though widely in double figures across much of the UK.”
Watch: Another record low for England as more snow and ice hit
