UK weather forecast: Saturday set to fall just short of hottest day of the year as Britain enjoys warm sunshine

Sunny and warm conditions to fade quickly with cold arctic air

Britain is set to bask in another day of warm weather as the country heads into its seventh weekend under the coronavirus lockdown.

On Friday it was thought some places might even break the highest temperature of the year so far, 26 degrees in Cornwall on 10 April.

However, the latest Met Office forecasts now predicts the maximum the mercury will reach is about 25 degrees in southern wales and southern England.

“Today is shaping up to be fairly similar to yesterday for many, after a mostly dry and fine start it is later this afternoon when there could be a few heavy showers and the odd thunderstorm breaking out across parts of Wales, southern parts of the Midlands, northern England and southern Scotland and Northern Ireland,” said John Griffiths from the Met Office. However, most of this rain will be in short bursts and peter out by the evening.

Although most of the UK will enjoy dry and balmy conditions, there is a cold front in the far north of Scotland which will bring outbreaks of rain in the Highlands and Islands, locally as much as 30mm, Mr Griffiths explained.

“It will be generally wet and windy up there. That’s the precursor to the weather going into tonight and tomorrow. As that cold front sinks southwards tonight it brings that colder air which is already in situ over the northern isles and Shetland today.”

By the start of Sunday Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England will see showery outbreaks of rain and colder temperatures as the cold front gradually drifts down the UK.

But for central and southern England and Wales the morning will still be bright and warm, with highs of about 17 degrees in places towards the south by late-morning.

But the forecast turns to the worst in the afternoon, Mr Griffiths warned: “Then that front sinks southwards to bring in colder air and more cloud, temperatures will be decreasing throughout the afternoon.

“As that front sinks south the rain will peter out so it will only be a few spits and spots of rain by the time it reaches the Midlands into the afternoon. The rain is probably not making its way into London until the evening.

“Winds will be increasing in the afternoon though which will accentuate the cold feel to the weather as well through the Sunday.”

The outlook for next week is expected to start off chillier and windier on Monday and Tuesday but will gradually improve throughout the week as temperatures rise.