UK to bask in temperatures hotter than southern France and Barcelona next week
Britain is set to bask in temperatures warmer than Barcelona and the south of France next week when a mini-heatwave sets in thanks to a high pressure system.
The mercury is predicted to rise to the dizzy heights of 21C — some four degrees higher than in Spain in what will prove a welcome relief from the strong winds and heavy rainfall currently battering the UK.
A Met Office imposed yellow warning for wind had been in place in several regions until Wednesday (April 12) and although that has been lifted the wintry conditions aren't quite over yet.
READ MORE: Britain faces hotter summer than last year’s 40C record baker due to weather phenomenon
Forecasters have even refused to rule out ice and snow later this week, before the warmer weather sets in.
Met Office Meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, explained that a "low pressure system" is moving across the UK in the early hours of Thursday morning, which could result in snowfall in parts of Scotland.
In more positive news, however, his forecaster colleague Chris Fawkes added: "Gradually through Sunday and Monday it becomes drier and eventually warmer, the first 20C of the year on the charts in London into Monday."
Elsewhere in Europe, Rome and Athens too are set to be cooler than Britain too next week with highs of 17C and 20C respectively.
The forecast comes amid news the country faces an even hotter summer than last year’s 40C record breaker.
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Forecasters reckon the El Niño weather phenomenon — the warming of Pacific Ocean water — could combine with global warming and high pressure leading to scorching summer temperatures.
The risk of sweltering weather this summer is heightened because El Niño is predicted to be particularly powerful.
Jim Dale, of British Weather Services, said: "It will take time to build for us, we’re talking maybe mid-summer – it won’t be an overnight sensation.
"What we’ve got to have in place for that extreme heat to happen is climate change, that’s still happening, and El Nino.
"Then for the UK to join it, it’s the right synoptic situation. Changes in atmospheric pressure causing heat spikes.
"You get into that scenario and we’re very capable in terms of climate change of getting back up to 40C in July, August, maybe early September."
But long before then we’ll continue to endure stormy weather this week.
Forecasters say the UK will be hit with gales of up to 60mph and heavy rain, as unsettled weather continued to wreak havoc following warm Easter weekend weather.
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