Brits are expected to sizzle in a rare patch of warm weather this Easter weekend with the Met Office predicting the mercury could rise to the same temperatures as Europe's scorching holiday islands.
Sun is set to shine over huge swathes of the UK between Good Friday and Easter Monday - likely to leave many holidaying abroad wondering why they left when the best of European weather is at home.
The English heat will surge to a toasty 23C this weekend, beating the sizzling islands of Mallorca and Madeira, where highs of 20C (68F) are expected.
The hot weather spike at home will also trump the 18C heat in Spain's party island of Ibiza, as well as Malta and Crete, by a massive five degrees.
On Good Friday, Met Office forecasters predict parts of southern England will see highs exceeding the 21C (70F) in sunny Nice and Athens, as well as the 22C (71F) of Spain's scorching city of Barcelona.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon told the Mirror that the cause of the uncharacteristic mini-heatwave is warm air being driven up from France.
These warmer conditions will last through the weekend, with highs of 23C in some areas of southeast England.
He said: "This switch to milder conditions continues on Friday, where temperatures could reach up to 23C in some isolated spots in the southeast, and widely high teens elsewhere.
"The clearest skies are expected in the south and southeast. Warm air is being drawn in from France, which is what’s responsible for the trend upwards in temperatures later this week.
"Saturday will still feel relatively mild in the sunshine for most, with highs widely expected to be in the high teens, albeit slightly reduced from Friday.
"Some showers are possible early in the day in central and western areas, with an ongoing risk of some early low cloud and fog around some coasts.
"This will then feed in to a more unsettled mix on Sunday, with some clear spells in southern areas, but rain and showers further north.
"Although fairly far ahead in the forecast period, conditions suggest the likelihood of an unsettled theme continuing on Monday, with some breezy conditions and rain moving in from the west, although timing is as yet uncertain."
Below is the five-day forecast for each UK region...
Good Friday
According to the Met Office's daily forecast for Friday, the start of the Easter break will see "plenty of fine, dry and warm weather for many". But some areas, particularly on the coasts, will experience cloudier and cooler conditions. In some places there will be some patchy rain or showers.
Northwest England
Friday will start cloudy for many in the northwest, but largely dry. These conditions will continue through the day until around 4pm when clear skies and bright sunshine are expected to burst through as the mercury reaches 18C.
By 7pm sun and bright spells will be covering most areas.
Northeast England
The Met Office predicts temperatures in the northeast will reach highs of around 14C in the warmest area, Darlington this Good Friday. Throughout the day, cloud will cover most areas, with sunshine and bright spells making an appearance at around 7pm.
East Midlands
The mercury will rise to a warm 18C in the East Midlands this Good Friday with the best and brightest weather seen in Nottingham. Many other areas will see sunny spells though more cloud will cover eastern coastal areas.
West Midlands
A glorious start for many in the East Midlands as clear skies and bright sunshine is set to hit Birmingham, Coventry, and Stratford upon Avon. As the day continues, more cloud will creep in but temperatures will remain around a toasty 18C.
London
The day will start with fog and mist covering London and other southern regions, but this will make way for clear skies and bright sunshine by around 1pm as temperatures reach 19C.
Southwest England
Fog and mist are expected across the southwest before dawn, with cloudy and overcast conditions for most of the morning.
There is a chance of light rain in some areas, but a clear and sunny day for other towns, like Yeovil. The region will also be a tad colder than the rest of the country, with highs of around 16C.
Southeast England
The day will start cloudy but by lunchtime, clear and sunny skies will be covering huge swathes of the southeast from Rochester, to Reading and Brighton. The pleasant conditions will continue through the day with highs of 19C.
Scotland
Highs of 16C will be seen in Aberlour this Good Friday with temperatures bouncing between 11C and 14C for the rest of the country. However, for most there will be very little sunshine, though spells may hit Edinburgh and other regions later in the day. In the west, people in Tarbert are expected to have a sunny day with clear skies.
Wales
Some patches of mist on Friday morning will clear by around 10am for sunny spells in some areas. But cloud will continue for most before 7pm when sunshine and clear skies are predicted for Cardiff. Temperatures will reach a maximum of 16C, according to the Met Office.
Northern Ireland
Cloud will cover most of Northern Ireland throughout Good Friday, leading to a largely dry but overcast day, with highs of around 14C in the north.
Easter Saturday
Northwest England
Saturday will start with overcast skies for most areas, but as the day wears on this cloud cover will become thicker and heavier. Though the skies won't be clear, the day will be generally warm - with highs of 17C.
Northeast England
The mercury will rise again to around the 14C mark in the northeast, with cloud covering the region for the majority of the day. At around 4pm the skies will brighten along the east coast, with sunny spells expected from Whitby to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
East Midlands
A largely cloudy and overcast day for the East Midlands on Saturday, but with a low likelihood of rain, according to the Met Office. But temperatures will remain mild, at around 17C.
West Midlands
Similarly to the east, Brits in the West Midlands will wake up to cloud on Saturday that will last through the day. Conditions are expected to be slightly chillier, peaking around the 15C mark.
London
Unlike the rest of the country, London and its surrounds are set to experience another dry and warm morning. After lunchtime, the sunny spells will weaken with cloud cover taking over - and temperatures hitting 17C.
Southwest England
A foggy and misty start to the day in the southwest, with dreary and colder conditions taking over in the morning and continuing through Saturday.
Southeast England
Like London, weather in the southeast will be pleasant on Saturday, with clear sunny skies and warm conditions predicted along the south coast. Sunny spells will also be seen along the eastern coast as far north as Norwich.
Scotland
A markedly colder day for most in Scotland though there will be some warmer areas. Light rain and overcast conditions are predicted for many while sunny spells will be seen over a few locations.
Wales
Saturday will also be largely overcast in Wales, with particularly heavy spots in southern and central towns
Northern Ireland
Temperatures for the day will remain between 10C and 15C on Saturday in Northern Ireland, and though there is a chance of sunny spells, these will be accompanied by light showers.
Easter Sunday
Northwest England
With cloud expected over most parts of the UK on Sunday, rain will fall as winds hit the northwest. Temperatures are set to peak around the 14C mark.
Northeast England
Dark clouds and heavy rain will fall over the northeast on Sunday, with the worst set to lash Newcastle-upon-Tyne and below the Scottish border. During the night, this rain will weaken into light showers in coastal towns like Whitby while temperatures stay around 13C.
East Midlands
A cloudy day for most but with some chance of sunny spells along the coast - with a mild day at around 16C.
West Midlands
Moving west the cloud will remain with the chance of some showers and sunny spells, with highs of around 14C.
London
Most of the day will be cloudy but dry in London - but towards the evening it may become slightly brighter with sunny spells.
Southwest England
Another largely overcast day in the southwest, though sunny intervals are expected in Barnstaple and Yeovil as the mercury rises to highs of 15C.
Southeast England
Slightly warmer in the southeast where temperatures are expected to reach around 17C. Sunny spells in the morning will be shortlived with cloud taking over from around midday.
Scotland
Showers are expected to fall throughout a cloudy Sunday in Scotland. S ome small patches of sun are set to feature during a chilly 10C day.
Wales
Highs of 14C are predicted for Wales for a largely cloudy day with patches of showers. But towards the evening, the sun is likely to make an appearance with sunny spells across the country.
Northern Ireland
A cloudy start will turn into drizzle as Sunday wears on, but there is a chance of sunnier spells in the afternoon. Temperatures will sit around the 13C mark.
Easter Monday
Northwest England
Another cloudy start to Monday with some light showers expected in the early hours. But the skies are forecast to brighten as the day goes on, and by 10am sunshine and spells will return.
Northeast England
The northeast will start cloudy but dry, with brighter weather expected to make an appearance by midday.
East Midlands
Sunny intervals are predicted across the Midlands early on Monday morning - with cloud taking over again from around 10am. By the same time, temperatures will be around the 11C mark.
West Midlands
Similar conditions will be seen in the West Midlands - with a cloudy start making way for sunshine between 7am and 10am. However, the sun looks set to continue throughout the day as cloud cover breaks for more sun. Highs of 11C also expected.
London
London is set for a sunny day, according to the Met Office, with sunshine starting after dawn - with 8C temperatures expected before midday.
Southwest England
The southwest will see a lot of cloud first thing on Monday morning, with patchy sunny spells making an appearance by around 10am.
Southeast England
Conditions in the southeast will be similar to those seen in London, with most parts of the region basking in glorious sunshine on Monday morning.
Scotland
Scotland will be largely cloudy on Monday morning, with the chance of both sunshine and rain in certain areas. Pockets of heavy cloud and showers expected over western areas while sunny spells are set to feature on the northeast coast.
Wales
Conditions in Wales will be largely dry for the start of Easter Monday, with sunny spells dotted across the country.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland will see similar bands of cloud, which will make way for some sun as the morning continues. By around 10am sunny spells will be seen across the east coast.
