Sun-starved Britons flock to the seaside as temperatures reach 26C

Sun-starved Britons have flocked to the seaside as temperatures reach 26C on the hottest day of the year so far. 

People throughout the country, from Bournemouth, to London, Weymouth and Maidenhead, have headed outside to soak up some much-needed rays. 

The warm weather has come at the perfect time for families as it coincides with the school Easter holidays, providing a welcome respite for parents across the nation. 

The bright spell has seen Tuesday swiftly eclipsed as the warmest day of the year so far – though it still holds its title of the hottest April 7 on record. 

The Welsh island of Anglesey saw the highest temperature across the country on Tuesday, with 24.8C recorded in Mona.

But on Wednesday, the hottest spots have been central and south-eastern England, where winds have been lighter, as the latest weather map reveals.

The Met Office said: ‘Highs in the low to mid-20s are expected widely across England and Wales today, with the warmest conditions often found in sheltered areas.’ 

The peaks of 26C seen across the country on Wednesday are ‘well above the early April average’, the forecaster added, which is typically in the mid-teens. 

And the mercury is largely set to remain high, it continued, with ‘fine and sunny weather’ is set to ‘dominate’ in many areas for the next few days. 

‘We’re very likely to see higher temperatures as we move through the rest of spring and towards summer,’ the weather service concluded.   

Paul Gunderson, Met Office chief forecaster, said: ‘We’re seeing a brief but notable spell of very warm weather for early April, with temperatures more typically associated with late spring or early summer. 

‘This could be the warmest spell at this point in April since 2020, a year many will remember because of the Covid-19 lockdown.’ 

Forecasters have also warned of a ‘pollen bomb’, as levels soar across much of the country.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said: ‘There really is no place like Brighton when the sun is shining and we’re definitely seeing people keen to take advantage of the sunshine today – not just on the beach itself, but also visiting our brilliant seafront cafes and bars, or enjoying a walk along the prom.

‘Our new seafront park in Hove has been incredibly busy as well, with families making the most of the school holidays at our skatepark.

‘We’re officially the sunniest city in England and we know how to have fun when the sun it out.’

A spokesman for Weymouth Town Council said: ‘It’s been wonderful to see so many people choosing to enjoy the sun on Weymouth beach and we’re looking forward to welcoming more visitors to our town, so they can enjoy all the fun our resort has to offer. Roll on summer!’

A spokesman for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said: ‘It’s great to see people enjoying BCP’s beautiful beaches in the warm weather, and we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit.

‘With seafront facilities fully open, visitors can look forward to land trains, cafes and attractions across the promenade, offering plenty to enjoy for families, day trippers and holidaymakers.

‘We urge anyone considering a swim to follow the RNLI’s water safety advice, and remind beachgoers that disposable BBQs are only permitted on the beach between 6pm and 10.30pm.’

Webcams also showed crowds sunbathing at Lyme Regis beach in Dorset.

But not all areas of the country have been lucky enough to enjoy a share of the sunshine. 

Conditions were cloudier and cooler across Northern Ireland and northwest Scotland on Wednesday, with outbreaks of rain at times.  

Forecaster Mr Gundersen confirmed the warmth of the last few days may unfortunately be ‘short-lived’ for some parts of the UK. 

The latter half of this week could see ‘a marked drop in temperatures’ in some regions, he said, along with ‘more unsettled conditions’. 

‘In some areas, daytime temperatures could fall by around 10C between Wednesday and Thursday,’ he said. 

The Met Office warned of a ‘big change’ on Thursday when temperatures are expected to drop to between 10C and 13C.

A spokesman said: ‘It’s all purely down to wind direction at this time of year.

‘For the next couple of days we’re dragging in that warm, southerly wind, which will allow us to see temperatures reach the mid-20s.

‘As we go into Thursday, we’ll see temperatures return to normal for the time of year as we see the weather turn more changeable with advances of rain and showers.’

Temperatures are forecast to hover around 10C in the North and 14C in the South over the weekend.

The warmer spell comes in the wake of Storm Dave, which caused widespread damage and disruption over the Easter weekend. 

The chaos saw 70mph winds batter parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales.