Britain is set to sizzle on hottest March day since 1968
Hottest March day for 53 YEARS! Britons enjoy new found freedoms during record-breaking 76F spring heatwave – but Cornwall day-trippers are told to KEEP OFF the beaches
- Warmest conditions in South East today are on a par with Majorca as mercury hits 75.6F (24.2C) in London
- Temperatures in March last exceeded 73F (23C) in 2012, and 75F (24C) in 1968 when all-time record was set
- Warmer weather coincides with the end to ‘stay at home’ order in latest stage of roadmap out of lockdown
- Conditions could change again from the middle of this week with a dip in temperatures for Easter weekend
Britons flocked to parks and beaches to enjoy the country’s hottest March day for more than half a century today as temperatures soared beyond 75F (24C), one day after lockdown restrictions were partially eased.
The warmest conditions were in South East England, which was on a par with the Spanish holiday island of Majorca, as people enjoyed the newfound freedom of being allowed to meet up in groups of up to six outdoors.
St James’s Park in London hit 75.6F (24.2C) at about 2.30pm – making today Britain’s warmest day of 2021 so far by some distance, smashing the record set only yesterday of 68.7F (20.4C) in the same location.
The mercury last got above 73F (23C) in 2012 and 75F (24C) in 1968 – a year which also saw the all-time record of 78.1F (25.6C) set in Mepal, Cambridgeshire, on March 29, 1968, in records dating back to 1884.
This morning also saw a dramatic diurnal range difference between low and high temperatures as the mercury rose by 37.1F (20.6C) in four hours at Santon Downham in Suffolk – from 29.1F (-1.6C) at 7am to 66.2F (19C) by 11am.
The warmer weather which began yesterday follows a blustery and wet weekend for many – and coincides with the end to the ‘stay at home’ order in the latest stage of the roadmap out of the third national coronavirus lockdown.
Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates said today: ‘If we do get above 24C (75F) it will be the highest UK March temperature in 53 years. It seems a reasonable chance that’s going to happen.’
Beachgoers enjoy the sun in Southend-on-Sea in Essex this afternoon as a mini-heatwave hits the South East of England
Hundreds of people flock to Barry Island beach in South Wales today as the temperatures soar in parts of Britain
Two women enjoy a drink as they walk along the promenade at Barry Island beach in South Wales this afternoon
Beachgoers enjoy the sun at Southend-on-Sea this afternoon as a mini heatwave hits the South East of England
Group of people relax in the sunshine at the Victoria Embankment Gardens in Central London this afternoon
The beach at Southend-on-Sea is packed today as people enjoy the warm weather at the seaside in Essex
People out in the sunny weather near Tower Bridge in London this afternoon as temperatures soar into the 70Fs
Sunseekers enjoy the weather at the Hot Walls pebble beach in Old Portsmouth, Hampshire, today
People go for a walk along the River Thames near Tower Bridge in London this afternoon as they enjoy the warm weather
A woman enjoys sunbathing on Brighton beach today as southern England makes the most of unseasonably warm weather
People flock to Brighton beach this afternoon to enjoy the warm and sunny weather on the South Coast
A woman takes a dip in the water as beachgoers enjoy the sun at Southend-on-Sea on the Essex coast this afternoon
Beachgoers enjoy the sun in Southend-on-Sea this afternoon as a mini-heatwave hits the South East of the UK
Three women enjoy their lunch on a park bench in the sun at the Victoria Embankment Gardens in London this afternoon
Sunseekers soak up the rays by the Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth this afternoon as temperatures soar across the South
Warm spring sunshine at Camber Sands in East Sussex today as families enjoying the hot weather on the beach
Visitors enjoy the warm weather on Brighton beach in East Sussex today as temperatures soar in southern England
A man takes advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and relaxing of lockdown restrictions at Brighton beach today
Families head to the beach at Southend-on-Sea in Essex today as they make the most of the warm weather conditions
People enjoy their lunch on a park bench in the sun at the Victoria Embankment Gardens in Central London today
Visitors to Brighton enjoy the warm sunny weather on the beach this afternoon as the South East enjoys hot weather
People enjoy the warm spring weather at Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex this afternoon as temperatures rise in the South
People enjoy the sunshine at St James’s Park in London today, one day after it was the joint warmest place in the UK
People enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon as temperatures soar
Men carry boxes of beer as people flock to Barry Island beach in South Wales this afternoon to enjoy the weather
Groups of people sit in the sunshine on Primrose Hill in North London this afternoon as they enjoy the warm weather
Families enjoy the warm weather at Ruislip Lido in North West London this afternoon
He added: ‘It’s an exceptionally warm spell of weather with potential for some records to be challenged.’
Mr Keates said conditions would turn ‘cooler’ through Thursday ahead of the arrival of the Easter weekend.
But while southerners can expect conditions to be dry and sunny from today, northerners might still need to pack an anorak – with showers still a possibility until tomorrow.
Mr Keates also said Scotland’s highest temperature of the year was equalled by the 66.7F (19.3C) at Aboyne in Aberdeenshire yesterday and a new top temperature for 2021 so far in Northern Ireland was set by the 63.1F (17.3C) recorded at Helen’s Bay in County Down.
In traditional British topsy-turvy fashion, the weather is expected to change again from the middle of the week, with signs that cold air from the north could bring another dip in temperatures for Easter weekend.
By the end of the week, conditions are due to deteriorate, with showers likely in many areas.
Forecasters predict temperatures will drop to around or even below the seasonal average of 54F (12C) over Easter weekend, which begins this Friday, with widespread overnight frosts a possibility.
The coldest Easter weekend on record was in 2013 when 9.5F (-12.5C) was recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, on Easter Sunday.
The deepest snow recorded at Easter was on Good Friday came in 2010 when 36cm (14in) was measured at Strathdearn, northern Scotland.
The wettest Easter was in 1991 when 108.7mm (4in) of rainfall was recorded at Seatoller, in Cumbria, on Easter Monday.
Yesterday much of England away from the South East was cloaked in grey skies as blustery conditions left temperatures feeling three or four degrees cooler than the 54F (12C) to 57F (14C) showing on the thermometer.
A group of people enjoy a boat ride in the sunshine on Regent’s Canal in London this afternoon
People out in hot sunny weather near Tower Bridge in London this afternoon as temperatures soar in the capital
Members of the public enjoy the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset today as a spell of warm weather covers the South
People cycle through Richmond Park in South West London today as parts of the country enjoy the warm weather
The warm spring sunshine has encouraged people to meet outdoors on Wimbledon Common in South West London today
People go for a walk near Tower Bridge in London this afternoon as they enjoy the warm temperatures
Groups of people sit in the sunshine on Primrose Hill in North London this afternoon
People enjoy the warm weather today at Ruislip Lido in North West London as temperatures hit the 70Fs in London
A group of six young women make the most of the warm weather as they sit on the grass at Primrose Hill this afternoon
Members of the public enjoy the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset today amid a spell of warm weather in the South
People cycle in Richmond Park today as London enjoys balmy temperatures and sunshine this afternoon
People enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today, one day after the rule of six outdoors returned
People enjoying the warm weather at Southsea today as they walk along the seafront in Hampshire
People enjoying the warm weather at Southsea in Portsmouth today as the mini-heatwave sweeps over the South
People enjoying the warm weather at Ruislip Lido in North West London this afternoon
People enjoy the sunshine at St James’s Park in London today as the capital has warm weather conditions
People enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as temperatures rise in southern England
People go paddle boarding at Southsea in Hampshire today as they make the most of the warm weather
Families walk along the promenade next to Walton-on-the-Naze beach in Essex today as temperatures rise in the South
Beachgoers enjoy the sun in Southend-on-Sea this afternoon as a mini-heatwave hits the South East of the UK
People enjoy the warm weather at Ruislip Lido in North West London this afternoon
People enjoy the warm weather on Tynemouth Beach on the North East coast this afternoon
Beachgoers enjoy the sun in Southend-on-Sea today as a mini-heatwave coincides with the easing of lockdown restrictions
People enjoy the sunshine at St James’s Park in London this afternoon as they meet up outside in the warm weather
People enjoy the warm spring weather at Walton-on-the-Naze beach in Essex this afternoon
A man and his dog go paddleboarding on the River Cam in Cambridge this afternoon in the very warm temperatures
People enjoying the warm weather at Southsea as they walk along the promenade in Hampshire this afternoon
People punt on the River Cam in Cambridge today as temperatures soar in the South East of England
People enjoying the warm weather on the pebble beach at Southsea in Portsmouth this afternoon
Families sit on the beach at Southsea today as they make the most of the warm weather conditions in Hampshire
People enjoy the warm weather on Tynemouth Beach on the North East coast today as they make the most of a day out
Two women make their way past beach huts on the sea front on Boscombe beach in Dorset this afternoon
People enjoying the warm weather at Southsea today as temperatures soar across the South of England
Families make the most of the warm weather conditions at Southsea this afternoon
Meanwhile Scotland will be hit by rain, wind – and even snow over the Bank Holiday weekend.
A yellow Met Office warning for torrential rain was extended by 15 hours yesterday, meaning it will have been in force for 63 hours by the time it expires at 9am tomorrow.
At one stage yesterday, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency had 46 flood alerts and warnings in place.
Monsoon-like conditions continued to lash the North-West, flooding roads and closing the West Highland rail line between Crianlarich and Fort William.
For the Easter weekend forecasters said Arctic air on Sunday could bring snow showers. Oliver Claydon of the Met Office said: ‘We expect to see a return to wintry conditions.’
In Wales, the stay local order ended on Saturday and people were allowed to stay in self-contained holiday accommodation.
People out in hot weather near Tower Bridge in London today as temperatures reach highs of over 70F in the capital
The warm spring sunshine has encouraged friends to meet outdoors on Wimbledon Common in South West London today
A shirtless man looks at his phone while enjoying the sunshine on Wimbledon Common in South West London today
Swimmers take an early morning dip at Cullercoats Bay on the North East coast as the mercury soars in the UK today
People punt along the River Cam in Cambridge this afternoon as temperatures soar in parts of the country
People out in the hot weather near Tower Bridge in London as temperatures soar in the capital this afternoon
People enjoying the warm weather at Southsea today as temperatures get to unseasonably high levels
A group of people enjoy a boat ride in the sunshine on Regent’s Canal in London this afternoon
People out in the sunny weather near Tower Bridge in London this afternoon as temperatures soar into the 70Fs
Two people go for a walk along the promenade at Walton-on-the-Naze on the Essex coast this afternoon
Two women sit on a park bench in the sun at the Victoria Embankment Gardens in central London this afternoon
A child stands amid blooming magnolia flowers at Kew Gardens in South West London today
A group of young people walk through Primrose Hill in North London as they enjoy the pleasant weather conditions
Members of a local scooter club on the sea front on Boscombe beach during a socially distanced meet up today
A man sits topless in the Victoria Embankment Gardens in Central London today as temperatures soar in the capital
People enjoy the sunshine at Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire today as they go for a walk through a park
People make their way past beach huts on the sea front on Boscombe beach in Dorset today
People look at the views of London from Primrose Hill today as they make the most of the warm and sunny conditions
A couple walk up Primrose Hill in North London today as they enjoy the warm conditions in the capital
Two people enjoy a picnic on the grass at Primrose Hill in North London today as the warm weather continues
People sit on the grass at Primrose Hill in North London today as they make the most of the pleasant weather conditions
Three friends enjoyed a fresh start to the day as they went for a swim in the North Sea during sunrise at Tynemouth beach
Paddleboarders donned their wetsuits and hit the sea at Cullercoats Bay at as the sun came up this morning
Anna Heslop, 25, paddleboarding during sunrise at Cullercoats Bay on the North East coast
Early morning swimmers brave the cold water in New Brighton marina in the Wirral this morning
Runners made the most of the sunny start as they got out and did some exercise through London Bridge
Friends took the opportunity to have a catch up in the sun in Stratford-upon-Avon today
Commuters enjoyed a sunny walk into the office along London Bridge this morning
Dog walkers took their pets out for an early morning stroll in Wimbledon, south west London today
Runners were out in force in Wimbledon, south west London early this morning
Commuters cross London Bridge in the the morning sunshine today, with temperatures expected to climb throughout the day
Tower Bridge and the Thames was a picturesque sight in the morning sunshine early today
Chaos yesterday as crowds gather at the Arboretum park in Nottingham city centre yesterday
The stay home order in Scotland is to end on Friday, while in Northern Ireland up to six people, or two households, will be able to meet outdoors from Thursday.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister has urged people to remain cautious as the relaxation of lockdown measures in England coincides with an ongoing ‘exceptionally warm’ spell of weather.
Across the country yesterday, people made the most of sunny conditions and the easing of rules which means groups of up to six, or two households, are now able to socialise in parks and gardens while outdoor sports facilities can reopen.
The lifting of some restrictions saw golfers return to the fairways and swimmers take the plunge in outdoor pools as temperatures rose.
