Cracking news for Easter Sunday… it’ll be hotter than the Greece with temperatures to soar to 18C

Cracking news for Easter Sunday… it’ll be hotter than the Greek islands with temperatures set to soar to 18C

  • Forecasters expect sunshine from a high pressure system moving across the UK
  • Most of the country will enjoy the good weather except for Northern Ireland

Britain could be hotter than Greece today, with temperatures set to soar to 18C (64F) – the warmest day of the year.

Forecasters expect glorious sunshine due to a high pressure system moving across the country that has ‘timed itself nicely’ for Easter Sunday.

At 18C, the UK would be warmer than several sunbaked Greek islands, including Santorini, Mykonos and Crete. It would also beat the highest temperature recorded so far this year – 17.8C on March 30 in the village of Santon Downham in Suffolk.

Most of the country will enjoy the good weather except for Northern Ireland, where cloud is expected.

It comes as an estimated two million British holidaymakers head overseas this weekend, according to travel trade organisation ABTA.

Kew beauty: Vanessa Goss, from Reigate in Surrey, admires the spring flowers at the world-famous Kew Gardens in South West London yesterday

Holidaymakers returning from France in coaches yesterday suffered waits of up to three hours. Thousands of the ferry passengers stuck in the chaos at Dover last weekend – with delays of 12 hours – were suffering a double whammy on their return, with hold-ups at border control. 

Traffic out of Dover, though, was ‘free-flowing’ yesterday and should be the same today.

The sun is not expected to stay long, with rain sweeping across the country tomorrow.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: ‘On Easter Sunday, for the most part, it will be fairly sunny and temperatures may peak at around 18C. 

The only place we’ll probably see a change is Northern Ireland where it’ll turn increasingly breezy, cloudy and eventually damp.

‘For a good chunk of the UK, it’s going to be fairly reasonable.’ But he added: ‘It’s not going to last too long. Monday is certainly going to be that day of change, as low pressure starts to dominate the scene. With blustery showers, it’s the day to do anything you want indoors.’

People enjoying the warm weather on Bournemouth beach over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend

People enjoying the warm weather on Bournemouth beach over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend