Britons head to beauty spots to soak up fine weather ahead of downpours next week
Perfect timing! 1,500-mile wide storm will smash into Britain this week bringing downpours and chilly temperatures – just as lockdown restrictions are eased to allow two friends to meet for coffee in the park
- Crowds flocked outdoors across UK to enjoy outbreaks of sunshine before the weather turns next week
- Met Office warned temperatures will plummet below freezing this evening with downpours in coming days
- The outings come on the eve of the first step toward normality as lockdown restrictions begin to ease
Britain is set for downpours and a steep decline in temperatures before lockdown measures allowing friends to meet for coffee in the park are eased and schools are set to reopen tomorrow.
The 1,500-mile wide storm will be hitting back-to-school week. It shows wind gusts of 70mph on West and South coasts, and 60mph well inland in England, with gusty conditions for all.
The UK is facing freezing temperatures well below zero as Met Office forecasters predict blustering gales and showers as the week goes on.
It said: ‘As we head through this evening, much of the cloud should tend to thin and break across England and Wales and that will allow another frost to develop with the temperature dropping several degrees below freezing particularly across Wales and the south-west…
‘Into Monday, it is a bright start across some southern areas albeit very cold with the frost but thicker cloud further north will bring further outbreaks of rain particularly for western and southern Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and parts of the north of England.
‘It won’t be as cold tomorrow.’
Meeting a friend for a coffee on a park bench as well as outdoor picnics will be the first activities given the go ahead from tomorrow.
School are also set to re-open with ministers asking pupils to take two quick-result tests per week in order to weed out asymptomatic carriers of Covid-19.
Downing Street said nearly 57 million lateral flow test kits, which can produce results in less than 30 minutes, have already been delivered to schools and colleges as part of the rollout.
The 1,500-mile wide storm will be hitting back-to-school week. It shows wind gusts of 70mph in white on West and South coasts, and 60mph well inland in England, with gusty conditions for all
Britons headed to beauty spots to soak up the fine weather ahead of downpours next week on the last day before they can meet a friend for coffee in the park and schools return as lockdown eases. Pictured: Families in Brighton earlier today
Crowds flocked to outdoor spaces across the UK to enjoy the outbreaks of sunshine amid warnings that temperatures will plummet below freezing this evening. Pictured: Visitors enjoying the sunshine as they walk on the beach at Durdle Door at Lulworth in Dorset
The afternoon sunshine brought out crowds of people during lockdown on Wimbledon Common, London, after a cold start to the day
The outings come on the eve of the first step toward normality as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. Pictured: Members of the public relax in Hyde Park, London
Meeting a friend for a coffee on a park bench as well as outdoor picnics will be the first activities given the go ahead from tomorrow. Pictured: People on Primrose Hill in London earlier today
So-called wrap-around childcare will also be allowed to resume, paving the way for after and before school clubs to reopen from tomorrow. Pictured: Two women take advantage of the sunny weather to take their children to the beach earlier today
The Met Office continued: ‘The outlook, staying dry at first on Tuesday but turning very unsettled and becoming very windy through the middle part of the week.’
It comes as Britain prepares for its first step toward normality with lockdown restrictions easing from tomorrow.
People in England will be allowed to drink coffee on a park bench or have a picnic with anyone from their own household or with another person on a one-to-one basis.
But households will still not be allowed to mix inside or outside with anyone else.
The Government’s stay at home order will remain in place, with travel for non-essential purposes still banned, but care home residents will be able to have one regular named visitor.
It comes as Britain prepares for its first step toward normality with lockdown restrictions easing from tomorrow. Pictured: Queuing for coffee on the seafront as the warm weather brings people to the beach in Brighton earlier today
Meanwhile, all pupils and students will return to schools and colleges across England. Pictured: Woman sits on the beach with two children and their brightly coloured bicycles
Busy scenes with car parks full to capacity at South Shields seafront this afternoon where people have travelled to the seaside to enjoy the sunshine
Meanwhile, all pupils and students will return to schools and colleges across England.
So-called wrap-around childcare will also be allowed to resume, paving the way for after and before school clubs to reopen.
Earlier today Gavin Wiliamson denied pupils face chaos over mask and testing rules tomorrow as they finally get back to classrooms.
The Education Secretary insisted schools in England have been given clear guidance with the first phase of lockdown easing set to happen.
Pictured: Surfer rides a wave at Gwithian Towans Beach earlier today amid warnings that temperatures will plummet below freezing this evening
Members of the public relax in Hyde Park central London on the last day of full lockdown ahead of restrictions easing tomorrow which will allow meeting a friend for a coffee on a park bench as well as outdoor picnics
The afternoon sunshine brings out crowds of people during lockdown on Wimbledon Common, London, after a cold start to the day with temperatures set to plummet this evening
In interviews this morning, Mr Williamson said parents and children are ‘excited’ about getting back to face-to-face lessons.
He defended the rules around wearing masks insisting that in secondaries students ‘recognise the importance of doing whatever they can do’.
Challenged that teachers in primaries have merely been told to wear masks ‘where possible’, he told Sky News: ‘We set out very clear guidance about how teachers will be best able to approach this. Wearing a face mask is just one small element.’
Mr Williamson also insisted testing would play a key role – despite concerns about the logistics involved and the number of families that will be ordered to isolate due to ‘false positives’.
