Britain basked in the hottest April 7 on record yesterday, and the mercury is set to leap even higher on Wednesday.
Temperatures are predicted to climb as high as 26C today, which would mean eclipsing Tuesday as the warmest day of the year so far.
The island of Anglesey in Wales saw the highest temperature yesterday, with 24.8C recorded in Mona.
But today, the hottest spots will be felt in central and south-east England, as the latest weather map reveals.
The Met Office said: ‘The highest temperatures in the UK have been in north-west Wales today.
‘Here we’ve had the warmest 7th April on record and the highest temperature of 2026 so far.
‘We’re very likely to see higher temperatures as we move through the rest of spring and towards summer.’
Forecasters have also warned of a ‘pollen bomb’, as levels of tree pollen soar across much of the country.
For some, the warmth is particularly well-timed as it coincides with school Easter holidays, and families accordingly flocked to the beach to enjoy the sunshine.
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 spokesperson 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 spokesperson 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.
Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen 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.
‘However, this warmth will be short-lived, with a marked drop in temperatures and more unsettled conditions developing later this week.
‘In some areas, daytime temperatures could fall by around 10C between Wednesday and Thursday.’
The forecasting service warned of a ‘big change’ on Thursday when temperatures are expected to drop to between 10C and 13C.
‘It’s all purely down to wind direction at this time of year,’ a spokesperson said.
‘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 as 70mph winds battered parts of northern England, Scotland and Wales.
