This is the hottest day of the year so far, confirmed the Meteorological Service – and it will get warmer with the continuation of the Easter weekend.
The forecaster said that today the mercury reached 22 ° C in St. James’s Park in London, adding that the temperature is expected to rise to 23 ° C in the next few hours.
Earlier, the meteorological service advised sun-seekers to “make the most of the weekend” for Easter activities, as “Monday expects more moderate temperatures and wetter”.
Good Friday was expected to culminate in good weather over the weekend, brought by warm southern airflow over the UK.
People flocked to parks and beaches to enjoy the sun, and the travel chaos was not as bad as they had initially feared, despite heavy traffic jams in some parts of the country.
There were major traffic jams on the M20 in Dover as P&O Dover-Calais’ services remained suspended, with some passengers complaining that they had missed their ferries after waiting for hours.
Visitors to Wanstead Park in north-east London amid this year’s blue bells
(PA)
Met Office meteorologist Stephen Keats said temperatures in London were expected to reach 23 ° C, breaking a record of 20.8 ° C last month.
But warm weather will not be limited to the south, with mercury expected to reach tall teenagers in the north, including Yorkshire and parts of Scotland.
Bournemouth Beach was bustling when the weekend began
(PA)
Mr Keats said that while there may be no continuous blue skies, most parts of the UK will enjoy sunny periods and high temperatures.
He urged beachgoers to “stick to sunscreen” and drink plenty of water to protect themselves from higher than average UV levels.
Trucks and lorries lined up on the M20 towards Dover
(AFP via Getty Images)
The strength of UV rays can reach 6, which is considered high in the Met Office index.
This increase is caused by slightly depleted stratospheric ozone, which helps protect the Earth from radiation, he said.
(PA)
Naturally occurring reactions in the atmosphere, as well as man-made emissions, contribute to the phenomenon, which is usually temporary, the forecaster added.
He said: “This is a naturally volatile cycle, partly not supported by human emissions. There will be a short-term, slight depletion (in the stratospheric ozone) … and the sun will also get stronger in mid-April. ”
It was warm enough for a paddle
(PA)
But the higher temperatures brought a warning to hay fever sufferers, as Met Office pollen counts were forecast to be high across England throughout Good Friday and the weekend.
Edmund King, president of AA, said the roads would be busier than usual this Easter because of the hot weather, the lack of trains and the increase in “downtime”.
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