London will see “classic” spring weather into the weekend as temperatures creep up towards the mid-twenties.
The capital is set to bask in a week of sunshine with the mercury forecast to reach 24C on Sunday, according to the Met Office.
Simon Partridge, meteorologist for the forecaster, said temperatures throughout the week were “gradually warming up” across the country but patches of frost are still expected in rural areas where there are clear skies.
For Thursday, parts of the east coast of England may see the “odd light shower” in the morning while the rest of the country will remain dry and “bright with sunny spells,” he said.
“All in all, generally, another dry, fine day, a little bit cooler down the east coast, because there’s that breeze coming in off the North Sea,” Mr Partridge added.
Temperatures in London are set to reach 20C on Friday, with dry weather and plenty of sunny spells to follow.
Warmer temperatures are expected over the weekend, with southern England and south-east Wales forecast to enjoy highs of up to 24C on Saturday and 26C on Sunday.
The warmest areas may see some localised heavy showers on Sunday along with the “odd rumble of thunder”, Mr Partridge said.
Of the chilly evenings and warmer days, he added: “It’s a classic sort of spring set-up really.
“Going into summer, as we get more and more sunshine, the ground warms up more.
“At the moment we haven’t had it (the sunshine) for long enough for the ground temperatures to be that warm, so then overnight, when we get those clear skies, the ground loses temperature pretty quick.”
During this time of year, it is common to see the “biggest range of temperatures” between daytime highs and overnight lows, he added.
This comes after the UK saw its warmest start to May on record, with highs of 29.3C in Kew Gardens last Thursday.
The Environment Agency later warned that England is facing the risk of summer drought after the driest start to spring in 69 years has led to low reservoir levels, struggling crops and wildfires.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 464 wildfires so far this year, including in Dartmoor and Errwood Valley in Derbyshire, and have called on the Government to invest in fire services to address this “growing, year-round threat”.
The organisation warned that most wildfires are caused by human activity, including accidental and deliberate blazes, and that dry weather can worsen the damage caused by fires.
NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan said: “Wildfires are no longer a seasonal hazard – they are a growing, year-round threat to life, property and the environment, driven by the increasing impacts of climate change.
“Fire and rescue services are having to balance their response to these growing numbers of extreme weather events while trying to maintain core emergency response.
“This is not sustainable without proper support.
“We are urging the Government to use the upcoming spending review to deliver long-term, sustained investment in fire and rescue.
He added: “We cannot afford for fire and rescue to be the forgotten emergency service.”
