The UK has been able to see its hottest day of the year so far on Friday – as a ‘serious’ rating for wildfires that remain in place across the country.
The temperature can reach up to 24c in parts of central English, as the weather “closer to what we would expect in July” continues, said the Met Office.
This means that the UK is warmer than Marbella and Ibiza in Spain, Mykonos in Greece, and even Los Angeles in California, according to Office forecasts.
Look at the latest prediction where you are
Sky News Meteorologist Jo Robinson The weather said that the weather will remain ‘dry and sunny’ until Saturday and Sunday.
Rowers on the river Thames between Maidenhead and Bray, Berkshire. Photo: Dad
She said that daytime temperatures are expected to remain above average in the south and west, with the cool wind relieved next week as high pressure is centered on the UK and Ireland.
The highest temperature recorded so far this year was 21.3c in Northolt, West London, and Chertsey, Surrey on March 20. The average temperature for this time of year is about 12c in England and 10c in Scotland.
The view of a wildfire that broke out in Dorset on Thursday morning. Photo: Hayleigh Carter/Dad
This comes because with Office predicted that a ‘serious’ likelihood of wildfires broke out across parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, due to the current weather conditions.
The predictor said the combination of ‘ongoing dry, hot, but often windy, again’ can lead to further outbreaks of fires after the flames broke out in Dorset and Scotland Earlier this week.
The ‘serious’ wildfire rating was first released by the Office on April 1. The Met Office said it would be downgraded in some areas from Sunday, but stayed at an amber level in the South East of England.
The UK will still have dry and sunny weather over the weekend. Photo: Dad
Warnings not to use BBQs
Before the hot weekend, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) advised Londoners not to have a braai in open spaces, to prevent it from accidentally starting a fire.
LFB Assistant Commissioner Paul McCourt said: “We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine, but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting.
‘The with Office has issued an Amber Wildfire alert that covers London, and it will be in place for the rest of the week.
“While the weather is warming up and we are on our way on Friday and the weekend, we will ask Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable braai, to throw away garbage and carefully do the cigarettes to avoid a fire.”
A similar warning was issued by the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, which posted on Facebook to warn: “Wildfires spread quickly, which left scorched landscapes, lost habitats and could be great pressure on fire sources.
“Don’t let carelessness be the cause!”
Several hectares of Bushveld in the Moors Valley Country Park on the border of Dorset-Hampshire have already been destroyed due to wildfires that broke out on Monday and Wednesday.
Game fires in Dorset have destroyed several hectares of a national park
Two more large wildfires at the nearby Canford Heath in Dorset were also undertaken by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in Thursday morning.
While in Scotland, a large grass fire at Gartur Moss in Port of Menitate, Stirling, stretched for half a kilometer.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended a separate fire just north of Loch Dee in Galloway Forest Park on Thursday.
Officials said there was a ‘very high to extreme’ risk of wildfire across the country until Monday and urged the public not to put fires outdoors.
What caused the British wildfires?
Game fires are not as uncommon during the spring in the UK, but the recent dry weather has increased the fire risk, the host of Sky News Weather Kirsty McCabe say.
She says Scotland recorded about 64% of its average rainfall in March during March, with Southern Scotland scoring only 49%. According to preliminary figures from the Met office, the UK recorded only 43% of its average rainfall for March.
“If we look at the UK as a whole, March was a very dry month, with a below -average rainfall for many,” says McCabe.
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She adds that the impact of drier than the average weather is that the moisture levels are reduced in soil and plants, resulting in drier and more flammable vegetation.
The Met Office said an area of clouds and rain showers of rain moving north across the southwest of England and parts of Wales on Friday night could bring some relief to some parts of the country struggling with dry conditions.
