Winter-weary Brits are in for a pleasant surprise this week as a “subtropical surge” brings balmy Mediterranean temperatures to the UK, with parts of the country set to be as warm as Madrid and Rome. After days of grey skies, frosty nights, and sleet or snow showers, the gloomy weather will make way for sunshine, with temperatures expected to reach highs of 17°C by Friday—matching Madrid’s forecast.
Rome, meanwhile, is predicted to see highs of 16°C, meaning parts of South East England could feel even warmer. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in Scotland and Northern Ireland for Tuesday, but the rest of the week will see a shift to milder conditions, according to Daily Star.
Tony Wilson of the Met Office noted that while wetter weather and showers are expected from Wednesday to Friday, “there will be brighter and sunnier spells in between bands of rain.” He added, “With temperatures possibly as high as 16°C on Thursday and Friday, it will feel much more spring-like than of late.”
This warm spell follows an “anticyclonic gloom,” a high-pressure system that left some areas without sunshine for over a week. Monday was particularly chilly, with temperatures in the north feeling as low as 1°C and southern regions reaching only 6°C—colder than Iceland. However, the mercury is set to rise significantly, surpassing February’s average temperatures of 9°C in southern England and 6°C in Scotland.
The weekend is expected to bring mild conditions, with sunny spells interspersed with showers and potential gales in coastal areas. For Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s English midfielder, the warm weather might even make a trip back to his hometown of Birmingham appealing.
This unexpected burst of warmth offers a welcome respite from the winter chill, with Brits set to enjoy a taste of spring just as the days begin to lengthen.
