It's been a long time coming...
After weeks of unseasonable weather, the sun finally smiled down on Greater Manchester today - just in time for a holiday weekend.
The region basked in baking temperatures reaching 22C.
And more of the same is forecast, with the mercury set to rise even higher on Bank Holiday Monday.
Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist from the Met Office, predicted: "We could potentially get to the hottest day of the year, but definitely by tomorrow."
The previous 2021 high of 24.5C was recorded on March 30 at Kew Gardens.
Across Greater Manchester, sun cream and sandals in tow, people flocked to parks and pub beer gardens to enjoy the warm summer sunshine at last.
Parks were packed - as our pictures of Alexandra Park in Whalley Range show - with social distancing being observed.
Picnics, sunbathing, ice creams and relaxation were the order of the day for many.
Families got together under the shade of trees and soaked up the rays sat - or rather lay - on blankets.
The scenes at Alexandra Park were mirrored across the city and the region.
At Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre, children cooled down by splashing in the ice-cool fountains.
The gardens were busy throughout the day, as people took time out to enjoy the sun on a Sunday.
Drinkers and diners flocked to Canal Street and Edge Street - and the pavement terraces of Stevenson Square and Oldham Street were packed.
The weather marked a welcome change from wet weekends, heavy downpours and Covid-19 restrictions.
Although a fine bank holiday is a rarity, in themselves the temperatures are not unusual for the time of year, with the mercury usually sitting in the high teens and low 20s by late May.
Meteorologist Ms Mitchell added: "That could go up to 27C in one or two spots by Wednesday - that is pretty warm for the time of year, but not record breaking and not exceptional.
"It is just because of the weather we have been having that it will feel pretty warm."
The Met Office, however, warned of high, or very high, UV light levels.
May was the fourth wettest on record for the UK, and the wettest ever for Wales.
Despite some bookies offering 2/1 odds on next month being the hottest June ever, Ms Mitchell said there was nothing in the long-range forecast at the moment that would indicate that will be the case.
