Sunseekers are in for a Turkish delight... as parts of Britain leave Istanbul in the shade.
While the city that straddles Europe and Asia will struggle to top 18C (64F) this week, a five-day heatwave kicks off with 23C in London, plus warmer than average temperatures elsewhere.
And the mercury could soar to a dazzling 26C down South before the week is out – meaning some of us are in for the hottest day of the year so far.
A balmy 22C on the south coast today saw millions of people pack beaches, parks and pub gardens.
Hotspots included Dorset’s Lyme Regis and Branksome beach, Bournemouth, where morning bathers enjoyed a dip in the sea, while Brighton seafront hosted a children’s parade during its annual art and community festival.
Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: “It’s likely we’ll see those warm and much warmer than average temperatures across the UK. Ultra-violet light levels will likely be high.”
Supermarkets were braced for a burgers-and-beers stampede as many families dusted off their garden grills for the start of the barbecue season.
But sadly for people in the Midlands and further north, the best of the week’s weather will be today, with sunny spells giving maximum temperatures of 20C.
The hottest day of the year so far was April 15, when the mercury hit 23.4C in London’s St James’s Park.
Bookies are now making it odds on that this month will be a record-breaker.
Coral was today giving odds of 4-5 for heat records being broken, and it was offering evens for this summer to be the UK’s hottest ever – topping 38.7C set in Cambridge in July 2019.
John Hill, from the bookmaker, said: “It’s going to feel like summer has come early over the next few days. As a result of soaring temperatures we have slashed the odds on this month ending as a record hot May.
“Looking further ahead, we now make it odds-on to be a record hot summer and we are not ruling out the UK having its highest ever temperature.”
The prediction, together with the prospect of strikes affecting airport travellers, could encourage people to ditch plans of a summer holiday abroad.
British Airways check-in staff are being balloted on industrial action in their battle to get their full salaries reinstated after taking a 10% pay cut during the pandemic.
The airline has already axed thousands of flights due to staff shortages this year.
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