Glorious sun on the home front for VE Day: Britain is set for 75F scorcher today when millions celebrate momentous 75th anniversary of the end of WWII
- Temperatures are expected to reach up to 26C (78.8F) across the country, in time for the VE Day bank holiday
- Parts of UK forecast to be hotter than some of Europe’s top tourist destinations including Monaco and Corfu
- Sunny weather will test Britons who have been cooped up indoors after some 46 days in lockdown
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The UK will be bathed in glorious sunshine at the start of the VE Day bank holiday today with temperatures set to soar – testing frustrated Britons who remain under lockdown.
Temperatures are expected to reach up to 26C (78.8F) today, with parts of the country forecast to be hotter than some of Europe’s top tourist destinations including Monaco and Corfu.
The fine spell should continue for most areas into Saturday, but many beaches and open spaces are likely to be largely empty as people stay at home due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The Met Office said an area of high pressure will move across the south of England on Friday, bringing sunny skies and warm weather, with the mercury soaring into the mid-20s in London and the South East by the afternoon.
A veil of mist covers a field in Widnes, Cheshire at sunrise this morning
The ‘Tommy’ war statue by artist Ray Lonsdale in Seaham, County Durham at sunrise this morning
Scotland will reach highs of 17C (62.6F), Northern Ireland will see the mercury rising to 18C (64.4F), and northern England and Wales could each see peaks of 21C (69.8F).
The sunny spells are down to warm air to the south of England which will begin to move north over Friday morning.
Met Office forecaster Oli Claydo, said: ‘It will be a bright and warm day for most on Friday, with temperatures rising as high as 26C (78.8F) in London.
‘There will be some early morning fog in the Midlands and west of England, and scattered showers in Scotland, but that should clear by mid-morning.
‘By the afternoon it is likely to be clear and pleasant for all, and could be pretty hot for most. But this will start to change on Saturday as a cold front will move from Scotland, bringing scattered showers in parts.’
By Sunday the temperature could drop as much as 11C as Arctic air sweeps in from the north of the UK to bring rain and colder temperatures, with possible wintry showers in northern Scotland.
Mr Claydon added: ‘There is expected to be a drastic drop in temperature on Sunday, falling as low as 15C (59F) in London, and there could even be a chance of snow in hilly areas of Scotland, but it is unlikely to set.’