Britons are expected to bask in the hottest day of the year so far this weekend, with temperatures in some parts likely to be higher than in the south of France.
The heat is anticipated to rise on Saturday, peaking at 18-19C (64-66F) in north-west Wales and central England.
The Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “It is likely on Sunday we will see further sunshine for many parts of the UK. In the sunshine across England and Wales we will see temperatures above average for this time of year, above 18C or 19C. In south-east England we could see highs of around 23C.
“It will be a lovely weekend for much of England and Wales, but in Northern Ireland and Scotland it will turn a bit cloudier.”
Public Health England advised people to protect themselves from harmful UV rays.
Prof John O’Hagan, head of the PHE’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, said: “It’s worth remembering that at this time of the year UV can be as strong as it is in August. Many of us won’t yet be acclimatised to that and so may burn more quickly than usual.
“If you’re going outside for a prolonged period, think how the sun affects you and what you can do to make sure you do not get burned.”
The warm weekend will dissolve back to average temperatures on Monday morning.
