The UK is going from Storm Dave to sunny days – and could have the warmest start to April in six years.
Temperatures could climb as high as 24C (75F) today and will be well above the average for this time of year in most parts of the country.
Western parts of Wales are forecast to get the best of the weather, eclipsing the peak of 20.9C (70F) recorded in Worcestershire last week.
Tomorrow is expected to be even warmer, but temperatures are expected to plunge to 10C to 13C (50F to 55F) as we head into Thursday.
Check the weather forecast where you are
All of this is a stark contrast to the Easter weekend, when Storm Dave’s 70mph winds caused widespread damage and disruption.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said the weather is “unusually warm” as average temperatures should normally be about 15C (59F) in early April.
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He added: “The wind is coming in from a southerly direction, and with not many clouds around, it should be well above the early April average.
“The last time we saw similar temperatures this time of year was in 2020, when we reached 26C (78.8F) in Cornwall.”
Hayfever sufferers might not welcome the warmer weather with open arms, as a “very high” red pollen warning is in place across England and Wales.
A particularly high tree pollen count is expected nationwide, exacerbated by light winds.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, a Met Office spokesperson explained: “It’s all purely down to the wind direction at this time of year.
“For the next couple of days we’re dragging in that warm, southerly wind, which will allow us to see temperatures reach the mid-20s.
“As we go into Thursday, we’ll see temperatures return to normal for the time of year as we see the weather turn more changeable with advances of rain and showers.”
Over the weekend, temperatures are set to hover at about 10C (50F) in the North, and 14C (57F) in the South.
