Families have packed out Britain’s beaches as the country basked in joyous rays of 27C sun after weeks of non-existent summer.
In Portsmouth, many clambered onto the sands to make the most of the balmy temperatures – which could last until next week according to the Met Office.
In the agency’s latest forecast, experts say the UK could be about to enter a sustained four-day warm spell with highs of 27C in some places.
And despite the rest of this summer’s weather being changeable and dour so far, forecasters say there’s a good chance this warm spell will be more temperate and calm – meaning it could last longer.
According to the Met Office, Brits could soon see ‘drier, sunnier, and fairly warm weather’.
BOURNEMOUTH: Families have packed out Britain’s beaches as the country basked in joyous rays of 27C sun after weeks of non-existent summer
SOUTHSEA: Families flocked to the fair sands of Portsmouth for a dip in the ocean today
Brits are preparing for a stellar week of weather, with the mercury set to reach as high as 27C in some parts of Britain
SOUTHSEA: Children were seen gleefully splashing through the sea as they enjoyed the wonderful weather today
EASTBOURNE: Arlo Mulley, five, Thea Fulcher, four, and Avery Mulley, three, enjoyed a day out at the beach today
HOTWALLS: This couple felt the sun on their backs as they lounged out near Portsmouth
However, it warned that ‘should hotter weather develop, this could also bring the chance of thunderstorms either within it, or as the heat breaks down and less warm conditions resume’.
Their forecast reads: ‘From Wednesday we will see high pressure build bringing a southerly airflow across the UK and temperatures pushing up into the mid 20s for much of the southern half of the UK, with the warmth likely to peak on Friday and Saturday as the mercury rises into the high 20s.’
Despite the optimism, the agency does note that following the spell, ‘the risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms arriving from the West will not be far behind.’
HENLEY-ON-THAMES: The river looked incredibly gorgeous today in the lovely summer sun
GREEN PARK: The summer sun lulled more than a few people to sleep as they basked in its rays today
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris, said: ‘A general warming trend is expected through much of this week, as the weather settles down for a time.
‘It’s not until Thursday that the warmer weather will become more widespread, with parts of Scotland also reaching the low 20s.
‘Most places will be dry with sunshine, although some early mist and low cloud could mean a slow start for some areas.
BOURNEMOUTH: A lady in dark pink trousers zoomed over beachgoers on a zipline today
LONDON: People at Primrose Hill were pictured strolling through the park today
LONDON: A woman took a glug of water as she rehydrated on Primrose Hill today
LONDON: The heat was too much for some people, who hid in the shadow of a large and leafy bush
‘We are likely to see the warmest weather on Friday and Saturday, with low to mid 20s widely and a peak of 29C most probable in the southeast; at this stage the odd 30 Celsius here on Friday cannot be ruled out.
‘A frontal system arriving into the west and southwest later on Friday, which could be preceded by thunderstorms, does complicate matters somewhat; after a very muggy night in the southeast overnight into Saturday.’
The UK has been waiting with bated breath for signs that a sustained period of sunny weather and a washout July.
LYME REGIS: The beach was packed with holidaymakers enjoying the scorching hot sunshine yesterday
WEYMOUTH: Thousands of Brits pack onto the sands at Weymouth to make the most of the weather yesterday
BOURNEMOUTH: Hundreds of people were seen frolicking on the beach yesterday as the weather cleared
Britain endured its sixth wettest July ever last month after the country was battered by downpours.
A succession of low pressure systems brought long periods of damp and windy weather to much of the country, making it feel at times more like autumn than summer – a sharp contrast to July 2022, which saw heatwaves and temperatures as high as 40C.
The UK had an average of 140.1mm rain last month, the sixth highest total for July since records began in 1836, according to provisional data.
Some parts of England also set new rainfall records. Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside all saw their wettest July. Lancashire was the wettest county compared to average, with 234.6mm of rain falling in the month.
However, those hoping for a boiling August Bank Holiday weekend are perhaps best advised to temper their expectations, with the Daily Mirror reporting that a Met Office spokesman has advised a significant late summer hot spell is ‘unlikely.’
They warned: ‘Although temperatures are set to pick up this week, an August Bank Holiday heatwave is looking probably unlikely.’