Britain set for record-breaking Easter weekend weather after sweltering Good Friday

Britain could see a record-breaking Bank Holiday weekend as the country basked in sunshine (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Britain could see a record-breaking Bank Holiday weekend as the country basked in sunshine (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Britain could see a record-breaking Easter weekend, with temperatures on track to break national records.

The mercury hit 25C in parts of the UK on Good Friday and were forecast to rise to a possible 27C on Easter Monday.

Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said fine clear skies would mean most Brits will enjoy "dry, sunny and very warm conditions” with temperatures rising on Saturday and Sunday to a possible 26C and "maybe a 27C" on Easter Monday.

The Met Office said it is set to be "a glorious day" in most areas, but outbursts of rain which are expected to clip north west Scotland on Saturday will be the exception.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has cut odds from 5/6 to just 8/11 for this year to see the hottest Easter Sunday on record.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "Brits have been treated to a scorching start to the Easter weekend and things will only get hotter if the latest odds are anything to go by."

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The UK's warmest Easter temperature was 29.4C recorded at London's Camden Square London on Easter Saturday in 1949.

Other sweltering Easter weekend days include Good Friday in 2011 when 26.9C was recorded at London's St James's Park. That Easter the mercury also reached 25.3C on Easter Sunday and 24C on Easter Monday, both in the Solent.

Ms Roberts said that these last two top temperatures are "ones to keep an eye on and could be broken" this weekend.

Britain has been basking in sunshine over Easter weekend (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Britain has been basking in sunshine over Easter weekend (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

The top temperature for Good Friday was 24.5C at Wiseley in Surrey, Ms Roberts said, ahead of plenty of varied sunshine for the rest of the UK.

Southern England and South Wales are set to wake up to some mist and fog, but that will burn away pretty quickly in the morning with the strong sunshine.

There is "a better picture" for north west Scotland on Easter Monday as they will lose the cloud and rain, according to Ms Roberts.

Bookmakers have slashed odds of a record-breaking Easter weekend (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Bookmakers have slashed odds of a record-breaking Easter weekend (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Top national temperatures recorded on Easter Sunday are 20.7C in Aboyne, Scotland in 2015, 21.6C in Brynamman, Wales in 1984 and 19.4C in Armagh in Northern Ireland in 1924.

The warmest Easter Mondays recorded nationally were 21.4C enjoyed in Culzean Caste, Scotland in 2014, plus 23.2C in Nantmoor in Wales and 21.1C in Knockarevan in Northern Ireland, both in 1984.