UK Experiences Warmest Day of the Year

Iruni Kalupahana, JadeTimes Staff

I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Europe

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Image Source: Sarah Dalton

The UK's warmest temperature so far this year was experienced on Friday as parts of south England recorded highs of 23°C, which surpasses leading tourist hotspots like Ibiza, Rhodes, and Cyprus. Otterbourne and Gosport in Hampshire were the hottest areas.

Cardiff saw temperatures reach 21°C, while Scotland and Northern Ireland were cooler at 10°C in Edinburgh and 15°C in Belfast. The temperatures are set to drop at the weekend as colder air from the north comes in. On Saturday, the hottest areas will be on England's south coast, where the highs will be 21°C, and on Sunday the high will be around 17°C.

The UK last month enjoyed its sunniest March since 1910, and just 43% of usual rainfall, one of the driest Marches ever. With dryness continuing, there remains a high level of risk of fire. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have placed an "extreme risk" assessment on wildfires, and the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has requested the public to exercise caution. Recent blazes already destroyed locations such as Bonhill (West Dunbartonshire), Kilpatrick Hills (East Dunbartonshire), Upton Heath (Poole), and Canford Heath.

The beginning of the new week may find the UK receiving overnight frosts, but temperatures will increase again, with Scotland looking set to reach 21°C. The present dry weather still remains a carrier of wildfire threats, and therefore individuals are advised to be careful in countryside areas of the nation.