The UK is set for a warmer run of weather later in the week after several days that felt more like winter than spring, with temperatures climbing from the mid to high teens and then into the low twenties for much of the country.
Parts of south-east England could reach 26C by the end of the week, though forecasters say there is still some uncertainty that far out. Sunshine will break through at times, but showers and longer spells of rain are still expected, meaning the warming trend will not arrive as a clean, settled spell.
This week has already been unusually cool, with temperatures around 4-7C below average across the UK under northerly winds. Showers, thunderstorms and hail have featured widely, and while those conditions are common at this time of year, they have made recent days feel harsh for many people. The pattern is now beginning to turn, but not all at once.
Saturday should start bright before cloud increases from the west. Rain is expected in Northern Ireland and in western areas of England and Wales, a reminder that the improvement will come in stages rather than in a single sweep. By Sunday, temperatures should rise to around 12-16C, close to the average for the time of year, and lighter winds should make it feel milder than this week. Showers on Sunday are expected to be mostly limited to northern and western areas, with sunny spells elsewhere.
The next shift comes as warmer southerly winds develop. By Tuesday and Wednesday, temperatures are expected to reach or just surpass average levels, with 16-20C for most parts of the UK. Later next week, the warmth should build further, with 20-26C likely across most areas and the highest readings most likely in south-east England.
The main question now is not whether the country will warm up, but how far it will go. The forecast points to a brief return to something much closer to early-summer conditions, yet the chance of 26C in the south-east still depends on how the week unfolds. For now, the message is clear: after a cold, windy and unsettled stretch, the UK is heading into a milder week, but not a dry one.
