UK weather forecast: Spring sun returns this weekend as heatwave surges through Europe

Temperatures are set to warm up in Britain over the weekend, with a promising heat-wave surging through mainland Europe.

Weather maps show a warm front creeping into southern areas of England, around Cornwall, on Saturday, with Sunday’s temperatures rising even further.

The 13C highs, weaker winds and brighter sunshine will make for a pleasant weekend as Brits remain on coronavirus lockdown.

Forecasts suggest it is unlikely the UK will see the baking heat of earlier this month anytime soon, however.

Britain was yesterday expected to be lashed by a week’s worth of rain in just 24 hours with eight flood alerts in place across the country.

The Midlands saw the brunt of the torrential rain, while added to that some Brits were also subjected to thunder and hail.

Until the last couple of days, this April had been the driest since 1938, when the month saw an average of 14.1mm of rainfall.

But with the likes of even Russia set to hit baking temperatures by the end of the weekend, there is hope for washed out Brits.

BBC forecaster Phil Avery said: “Over the weekend, into the start of next, I think we’ll see a plume of heat gradually working its way up through Iberia, may even touch 30 degrees in some locations.

“And even begins to warm up in Moscow.”

In the meantime, Thursday looks like another miserable time weather-wise for the UK.

The Met Office forecasts showers for much of the country, “heavy at times, with hail and the odd rumble of thunder” in parts of Scotland.

Further showers are then expected this evening with some frost in parts of northern England and Scotland.

Though only seven flood alerts have been put in place by the Environment Agency.

Chief meteorologist at the Met Office, Andy Page, said: “After several weeks of high pressure bringing plenty of dry, warm and sunny weather across the UK, this week we’re seeing the return low pressure, allowing Atlantic weather systems to once again move across the UK, bringing unsettled, cooler weather.

“On Thursday and Friday we’ll see sunny spells and showers for most parts of the UK, with temperatures around average for the time of year.”

Despite the recent turn in the weather, the UK’s April in lockdown is still set to become the sunniest on record.

The Met Office recorded 215.8 hours of sunshine between April 1 and 27, which is 46% higher than the average for the month and beats the record of 211.9 hours set in 2015.

The forecaster said April is provisionally the sunniest on record for the UK since 1929.