UK weather – Britain basks in hottest day of the year so far as temperatures hit 16C – but still take a brolly

BRITAIN is basking in the warmest day of the year so far today - but don't pack the brollies away just yet as it's set to pour in some parts.

While the UK faces a wet start to the weekend, temperatures have reached highs of more than 15C in some areas.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall told Sun Online today: "The weather this weekend is a bit of a mixed bag but we can expect conditions to be a bit more spring-like."

Light and drizzly rain coming in from the south overnight made for a soggy start to the weekend.

But the rain cleared north bringing warmer temperatures in the afternoon - feeling more like spring.

The highest recorded temperature - 15.3C - was reached in Kew, West London, making today the warmest day yet this year.

Parts of Devon and Cornwall are forecast to clear first with fine weather spreading to the Midlands by the afternoon.

North Wales and eastern parts of England are predicted to see the highest temperatures of around 15C or 16C.

But this warmer weather won't reach Scotland however as the rain, hill snow and brisk winds will keep temperatures at around 5C.

And while thunderstorms are possible across southern England, the Met Office has said they're "not likely".

The rain will clear north on Saturday night, giving way to a foggy, cloudy start to Sunday.

But many areas will dry out during the day with plenty of sunny spells as Saturday's weather effectively flips around.

Rain is predicted across the south on Sunday, with the north enjoying its own moment in the sun.

The warmer weather conditions are caused by a change in wind direction, with a south-westerly airflow set to bring in more humid conditions from the Atlantic.

Greg Dewhurst from the Met Office said the tropical blast would be a "one day thing", with temperatures set to return to "normal" March temperatures after peaking this weekend.

"We're set to return to more normal March temperatures next week, around the 10 to 11C.

"It will feel much milder, though there'll be no wall-to wall sunshine."

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