The UK saw its hottest day of the year on Tuesday with temperatures rising to over 25C in parts of the country, the Met Office said.
The mercury reached 25.1C in Porthmadog, North Wales, beating Sunday’s 2023 record of 24.4C in Plymouth.
Scotland and Northern Ireland also recorded their highest temperatures of the year so far at 24.5 in Tyndrum, Stirling, and 24.5C in Castlederg, Co Tyrone.
Met Office senior meteorologist Rachel Ayers said: “It’s been a fine, bright day with warm sunshine across much of the country.
“High pressure centred to the west of the UK is bringing settled weather, clearer skies and generally drier conditions.”
However, cloud in eastern coastal regions and an onshore breeze from the north east resulted in cooler temperatures of around 13C on the Kent and north east coasts.
Ms Ayers said: “The wind is coming off the North Sea, blowing into eastern areas. That’s why it’s clear in the west and cooler in the east.
“Through tonight, clouds are going to push further west, meaning a lot of Wales and south-west England, who have enjoyed wall-to-wall sunshine in recent days, will be waking up to clouds.”
Over the next few days, there will continue to be an east-west split. “The west will be the best with the highest temperatures and best of the sunshine, and it will be cooler and cloudier in the east,” said Ms Ayers.
While temperatures are predicted to remain similar, anyone hoping to head to the south east coast to soak up the sun over the half-term break may be disappointed.
Ms Ayers said: “Blustery north-easterly offshore winds over the next few days will make it feel cooler for anyone down at the beach for half-term.”
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said May has been “very dry” with “just slightly more than half the normal amount of rainfall we would actually expect”.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Generally dry and settled with some warm sunshine
Today
Mostly dry, although rather cloudy for many at first. Cloud gradually breaking and becoming confined towards the far north and east of Scotland, along with some central and eastern parts of England. Otherwise warm sunshine developing. Breezy in the south.
Tonight
Staying largely dry. Some late sunshine for many, with clear spells and local fog patches developing in the west overnight. Elsewhere low cloud becoming extensive from the east and north-east.
Thursday
Early cloud retreating towards the north and east, and here staying cool. Elsewhere plenty of warm sunshine developing as the cloud breaks quite readily. Remaining rather breezy in the south.
Friday to Sunday
High pressure will dominate giving mainly fine and settled weather. Warm sunshine for many, although low cloud persisting across parts of the north and east, becoming more widespread temporarily overnight.
