UK to See Hottest Day of the Year on Thursday as Spring Equinox Brings Unseasonable Warmth

Temperatures could reach 21°C in southeastern England, surpassing Mediterranean cities like Barcelona and Athens, but the warm spell will end by Friday.

Temperatures in parts of the UK, including London, Cambridge, and Bristol, are expected to reach up to 21°C on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year so far.
The warm weather coincides with the spring equinox, marking the official start of astronomical spring.
A southerly breeze bringing warmer air from the South and South East is driving the unseasonable warmth, which follows a cold snap earlier in the week with lows of -8.3°C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
Thursday's temperatures will exceed those in Mediterranean cities like Barcelona and Athens, where highs of 15°C and 12°C are forecast, respectively.
The warm spell will be short-lived, with temperatures dropping and rain forecast to spread across the UK starting Friday, leading to cooler and unsettled conditions over the weekend.