Brits can bathe in temperatures hotter than Ibiza as a 10-day sizzle for the Bank Holiday weekend and half-term takes it up to 25C – triggering the biggest beach rush since last summer.
After a grim May, there will be dry blue skies for most from Thursday through to Monday with the mercury going up from highs of 21C to 25C for the Bank Holiday.
By comparison, the Spanish party destination Ibiza is expected to be 24C, and even Malibu in California will only see highs of 22C.
Met Office forecasters have even said the “upper 20s” is on the cards from midweek in a scorching start to June.
"High pressure is moving in and keeping the weather front at bay for once. This high is sitting around through Saturday, Sunday and even into Bank Holiday Monday,” said the Met's Alex Deakin.
“Generally for the long weekend for the majority it looks dry, some sunny spells and certainly feeling much warmer than it has for much of May.”
It means 50,000 visitors are expected to be head for Brighton, another 30,000 for Bournemouth and 25,000 could make the trip to Blackpool.
On the roads, there is expected to be heavy congestion from the 11 million day-trippers, according to RAC data.
Coastal roads will be particularly affected by traffic jams including the A23 to Brighton, A31 to Dorset, A30 to Cornwall and M55 to Blackpool.
It is a welcome change after a miserable April and May so far. Spring washouts mean both of the months are set to be the UK's coldest for up to 70 years, since 1951, Met Office records show.
Provisional figures from the Met Office also indicate that April had the third lowest average UK minimum temperature for the month since records began in 1884, while Wales, Scotland and England all reported their figures in their top five lowest ever recorded.
But the sun is set to finally arrive and bring warmer temperatures.
Met forecaster Marco Petagna said: “A long-awaited improvement in weather will see fine conditions for the Bank Holiday weekend, with more sunshine and higher temperatures.
“We could tap into a very warm southerly airstream next week, with certainly the low-to-mid 20s for many, and perhaps the upper 20s locally in the south.”
Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze agreed: “Forecast models suggest the highest temperatures of the year could be reached by Monday, with the possibility of very warm weather next week.”
It could even feel like a "heatwave" after months of cold.
MetDesk added: “The Bank Holiday weekend may not be a heatwave by the official definition - but it'll certainly feel like one after recent weeks.”
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Thursday:
Early fog patches soon clearing, then most parts dry with sunny spells. Feeling warmer than recently with light winds. Clouding over in the far west with some rain later.
Thursday evening:
Thickening cloud bringing outbreaks of rain to some western parts. Clearer skies in parts of the north and east where it will turn chilly with a few fog patches.
Friday:
Mostly cloudy across western and some central areas with some rain at times. Drier and brighter in parts of the east and far north where it may feel quite warm.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Largely dry with increasing amounts of sunshine and warm for most. Isolated showers on Saturday.
Feeling cooler along the east coast. Maybe turning unsettled into the far northwest later Monday.
