UK to Bake: South Hotter Than Madrid This Weekend!

Warmer air is set to push into the southern UK starting Thursday, bringing temperatures above 20C and making these areas hotter than Madrid over the upcoming weekend. London and its surrounding areas are expected to reach highs of 21C, while the southwest and Wales will see temperatures in the late teens on Saturday. This contrasts sharply with the Spanish capital, Madrid, where Saturday temperatures are forecast to peak at 18C.

In stark contrast, northern regions like Kendal and Newcastle upon Tyne will experience much cooler conditions, with highs around 12C and 9C respectively. Scotland will also remain on the chilly side. This temperature divergence is predicted to persist through Saturday. By Sunday, drier and sunnier weather is anticipated for many, although temperatures are expected to dip again, with cooler than average conditions likely for early May.

Showers and longer rain spells are forecast to sweep across northern England and parts of Scotland, moving further south overnight into Sunday. Areas like Guildford could see 4-8mm of rain per hour, with steady drizzle expected in parts of Essex. This warm spell follows one of the warmest April days on record, with 26.6C recorded on April 8th.