Londoners are set to enjoy a glorious burst of early summer sunshine this weekend, with temperatures on Sunday expected to soar higher than in Ibiza.
Forecasters say the capital will hit a balmy 24C by 1pm on Sunday (May 11) — around 4C warmer than the Spanish island — making it the hottest day of the year so far.
The warm spell comes after a week of unseasonably cool weather, and sunseekers are being urged to make the most of the sunshine, with up to six hours of toasty weather forecast. The sun will stay out until around 8.40pm, and temperatures are only expected to drop to a mild 18C overnight.
However, the Met Office has warned that the heat may come with a few caveats. Its headline forecast for the region reads: "Sunny spells with a chance of thundery showers. Very warm."
“Cloud building through the morning with a chance of isolated showers breaking out as temperatures rise,” the forecast continues. “Perhaps giving the odd rumble of thunder during the afternoon. Very warm, but cooler by the coast where especially blustery at times.” The maximum temperature is expected to hit 26C.
Despite the high temperatures, a breeze of up to 12mph will make it feel slightly cooler — around 21C — though few are likely to complain after the chilly spell. BBC Weather is also forecasting clear skies with zero chance of rain on Sunday.
And the good news doesn’t stop there. Monday is forecast to be even hotter, with the Met Office predicting highs of 26C just as the workday ends — although there is a 40% chance of showers shortly after midday. The BBC is slightly more conservative, expecting 24C by 2pm and only a 15% chance of rain.
Overnight, London will remain warm, with a low of 14C. The Met Office warns: “Cloud will spill northwards overnight, perhaps introducing further locally heavy showers. Mild overnight.”
Monday is expected to be cloudier, with the potential for slow-moving, thundery downpours during the afternoon before clearing in the evening.
The outlook for the rest of the week is promising. From Tuesday to Thursday, the capital will remain dry and sunny, with warm or very warm temperatures and clear skies — although parts of Kent and East Sussex may feel cooler due to onshore breezes.
Londoners will be enjoying some of the best weather in Europe, as Ibiza, Barcelona, Granada, Tenerife and Madrid are all expecting cooler highs, with Madrid barely reaching 18C.
