Britons are bracing for a warm and sunny spring bank holiday as bookmakers place odds on it being one of the hottest ever recorded.
Despite the easing of some lockdown measures last week, people are being urged to stay away from beaches and beauty spots to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
After a spell of wet and very windy weather across much of the UK, temperatures are expected to rise to 26C in the south and 20C in the north on bank holiday Monday as Britons' movements are still heavily restricted due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 4/7 for this to be the hottest spring bank holiday on record and 1/4 on temperatures of 30C in coming week. However, it might just be wishful thinking.
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The maximum temperature ever recorded for a late May bank holiday Monday was 32.8C on May 29, 1944, just days before D-Day, in Horsham, Sussex, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and Regent's Park in London.
With the Met Office forecasting that temperatures could reach highs of 26C on Monday, many people may be planning trips to the beach.
Pictures of crowds flocking to beaches in Brighton and Southend in recent days have sparked fears that social distancing guidance over remaining two metres apart is being ignored.
Following the easing of some lockdown measures last week, there are no restrictions on how far people can go to get to the countryside, National Parks and beaches in England.
But councils with responsibility for beauty spots across the country are warning people to stay away.
The Met Office is forecasting that temperatures could reach highs of 26C in London on Monday, with coastal areas likely to see highs of around 20C.
Saturday is expected to be the coldest day, before the mercury climbs on Sunday and Monday, with wall-to-wall sunshine in the west and sunny spells in the east. The UV index will be high across most of the UK and pollen levels will be moderate in most of England and low elsewhere.
Here are the Met Office's latest regional forecasts for the bank holiday.
England
South West
Temperatures of about 19-23C are expected in the South West (from 16C in Penzance and Ilfracombe to 20C in Bath and Gloucester), with slightly cooler conditions closer to the coasts.
The Met Office says the start of the week will be largely dry with sunny spells and some patchy fog overnight.
It will become warmer from Monday.
London and South East
Temperatures are expected to peak at 26C in London and 22C in Reading, but it will be cooler along the southern coast - 20C in Brighton and Bournemouth, 19C in Margate and Brighton, and 17C in Hastings.
It will be dry with light winds in places.
It will become very warm by day but early next week there will be some chilly nights for some rural locations and a chance of patchy fog overnight.
East
Many places, including Norwich, Cambridge, Bedford, Hertford and Southend-on-Sea, will see temperatures around 22C with sunny spells.
Light winds could allow sea breezes to develop.
Like other parts of the south, the days will become increasingly warm from Monday with some locally chilly nights.
East Midlands
The Met Office is predicting highs of around 20-22C on Monday, with Lincoln, Nottingham and Leicester tipped to be among the warmest places in the region.
It will be dry with long sunny spells.
There is a chance of patchy light rain or drizzle on Tuesday.
West Midlands
From Monday, the weather will be dry with sunny spells and it will become warmer.
Across this region, including Birmingham, temperatures will climb to 20-21C.
It will turn cloudier on Wednesday.
Yorkshire and Humber
The bank holiday will be dry with sunny periods and light winds.
A high of 21C is expected in most places, including Sheffield and Hull.
Tuesday will be cloudier with a chance of patchy light rain or drizzle, followed by outbreaks of rain on Wednesday.
North West
Monday and Tuesday will be largely dry with sunny spells, the Met Office said.
A maximum temperature of 20C is likely in Greater Manchester, while 18C is expected in Liverpool and 16C in coastal areas to the north, including Blackpool and Morecambe, which will see some of the coolest temperatures in England.
Wednesday is likely to be cloudier with some patchy rain possible.
North East
The late May bank holiday will be dry with sunny periods and generally warm.
The Met Office is predicting highs of between 18C and 21C across most of the region, including 20C in Newcastle.
Patchy rain or drizzle is possible on Tuesday. Outbreaks of rain are possible on Wednesday.
Wales
Monday should be dry with sunny spells as the temperature climbs.
Parts of Wales could hit 20C, including Wrexham, and 18C, including Cardiff, while other areas, such as Swansea and Anglesey, see a high of just 15C.
Some rain is possible on Wednesday.
Scotland
Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders
The bank holiday will be dry with some warm sunshine.
Maximum temperatures of just 15C in Wigtown, 18C in Linlithgow and 19C in Edinburgh.
Some showers could arrive on Wednesday.
Strathclyde
The day will get off to a good start with dry and bright conditions, but some rain could move into the north-west of the region later.
Glasgow have one of the highest temperatures in the area (18C). It will be a touch cooler in places such as Kilmarnock (16C) and Ayr and Tobermory (15C).
Dry and bright conditions should remain on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Central, Tayside and Fife
This region will be dry with some warm sunshine on Monday and a chance of light rain in the far west later in the day.
The Met Office is predicting highs of 15C in Finnart, 18C in Stirling and 19C in Perth and Dundee.
Some sunshine is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Grampian
From Monday it will turn dry with some good spells of sunshine, and it will begin to feel quite warm in the region, especially in the east.
Parts of Aberdeenshire could get close to 20C.
Other places will be around 16-18C.
Highlands and Eilean Siar
The east of this region will be dry with some warm sunshine on Monday, while cloud and patchy rain will move into the west in the afternoon and evening.
A high of 17C is expected quite widely.
Tuesday and Wednesday will be mostly dry with some sunshine.
Orkney and Shetland
Monday will be dry with some sunshine and occasional rain later and light winds.
Temperatures will range between 12-15C.
Showers could hit on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland
It will be mostly dry, bright and warm on Monday.
However, it will cloud over later with patchy rain likely in the west by the evening.
The Met Office is predicting highs of 19C for Belfast, 18C for Armagh and Ballycastle, 16C for Derry and Enniskillen and15C for the Annalong area on the coast.
