Brits are set for a blistering Easter with temperatures reaching highs of 23C on Good Friday before they plummet again next week.
A high pressure over the UK over the next few days means that there will be plenty of dry weather and several days of temperatures in excess of 20C.
While airports are full of tourists looking to head away over the Easter break, it won’t be necessary to fight the long queues to get some sunshine as the hottest day of the year so far is expected to arrive on Friday.
Temperatures will be similar to those on the Spanish Costas and it will be warmer than Barcelona over the weekend.
After several weeks of icy weather, the temperatures are going to be above average during the holiday but then next week they are going to drop back down again with parts of the UK back to single figures.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said that the heavy showers for parts of the UK on Wednesday will gradually move away for the sunnier weather to arrive today.
"For most it is a dry night, a clear night across northern and eastern parts," he said.
"Further south though and across eastern parts we are going to see a lot of mist and low cloud forming so quite a grey start to Thursday across the Midlands, Wales and south west England, around western coasts, particularly across the Irish Sea, so quite murky to begin with here on Thursday, that’ll take a while to clear away."
The temperatures will start to climb, though, and it is likely to be over 20C in parts of the UK today.
"Generally it is going to be dry day for most places and probably brightening up a little after that grey start some decent spells of sunshine over northern England. It is eastern England where the temperatures are likely to get into the high teens, maybe up again over 20C in a few places," said Mr Deakin.
"For most Good Friday is set [to be] fair, fine and dry, probably a sunnier day. Certainly good spells of sunshine through the morning and some cloud will bubble up through the day, there is the possibility of one or two scattered showers during the afternoon but for most it should be dry.
"Again some coasts will be cooler and may stay murky but for most it is looking pretty pleasant with temperatures above average for the time of year, mid-high teens, 20C, 21C, maybe a little higher across the South East on Good Friday afternoon, maybe 22C or 23C in some spots."
In the north west, temperatures could reach a very reasonable 18C.
In Manchester Good Friday will likely similar temperatures and with sunny spells later in the afternoon - while sunny intervals and similar temperatures are predicted throughout the Saturday.
Sunday is set to be cloudy and mild, reaching 17C, with sunny intervals predicted by the early evening. Bank Holiday Monday is expected to see similar conditions, with sunny intervals in the morning but a cloudy afternoon.
In the north east, temperatures are likely to reach around 15C on Good Friday, with sunny intervals - while Saturday could bring more grey skies and cloudy weather.
In the midlands, Good Friday looks set to be a glorious day - with Birmingham and much of the surrounding areas seeing almost back-to-back sunshine and temperatures reaching up to 18C.
On Saturday, the Midlands is likely to see a cooler day with. more cloud cover.
Further to the south west, temperatures are set to linger around 13C on Friday, with sunny spells along with a chance of showers.
In Scotland, temperatures are forecast to be a little cooler, with highs of around 16C predicted for Saturday, while Good Friday could bring plenty of sunny spells.
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Turning warmer for most with some sunshine. Patchy night fog.
Today:
Dry for all but the far northwest. Some places starting grey and misty, but the low cloud and fog burning back to some western and perhaps southern coasts, allowing some warm sunshine for many. Some coastlines will be markedly cooler.
Tonight:
Dry for most, although patchy rain may affect some western fringes. Elsewhere some clear spells but also areas of low cloud and fog, most likely in the west and south.
Friday:
Most southern and eastern areas see spells of warm sunshine developing. Some western and northern regions cloudier at times with patchy rain, the odd heavy shower possible across Northern Ireland.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Some mist or fog near coasts but mainly dry with warm spells of sunshine over the weekend. Some showers possible at times. Rain from the west later Sunday into Monday.
