Britain could be hotter than Barcelona this week as forecasters predict a spring scorcher.
After the mercury hit 20C in one part of the UK on Saturday, forcasters declared it the warmest day of the year so far - and the balmy conditions are set to continue this week.
The Met Office revealed temperatures hit 20C in Kinlochewe, north-west Scotland, on Saturday and now forecasters at Netweather are predicting similar for Tuesday, reports the DailyStar.
From 12pm to 3pm on Tuesday in London, Brits could enjoy highs of 18C, Netweather predicts, and there is a chance of the same on Wednesday.
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By comparison, weather.com predict that temperatures in Barcelona will only hit 13C on Tuesday - a whole 5C lower.
The UK will also be warmer than Monaco, Madrid and Lisbon this week.
BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes reckons the weather “is going to get a lot, lot warmer” this week.
"As the southerly winds continue to push northwards through Tuesday and Wednesday, those temperatures are going to surge significantly," he said.
"Tuesday - a fine day with some sunshine - maybe a few isolated showers developing through the afternoon but most of you will have a dry day though.
"Temperatures will reach a high of 19 degrees C in London, 15 degrees C in Glasgow and 14 degrees C in Belfast."
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, says it may be even warmer this week.
He explained: "We are expecting a very pleasant spell of spring weather.
"It is certainly going to bring the warmest spell of weather so far this year in time for the spring equinox.
"We expect plenty of sunshine through the next week, and there is a chance that we see 21C in parts."
There are also hopes that this warm spell lasts into next month, with odds for the warmest April on record tumbling.
Coral now have the chances at 4-5.
Met Office verdict
Meanwhile the Met Office told the LiverpoolEcho that much of the UK can expect to see more warm weather and sunshine this week.
Forecasters said there are "plenty of sunny spells to come and temperatures will rise a little bit" in the week ahead, after a cooler Sunday.
The mercury is likely to sit at 15C-16C on Monday but Met Office forecasters are predicting highs of 19C on Tuesday before temperatures hold steady in most of England at around 17C or 18C through the rest of the week and into the weekend - warmer than the average for March.
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The vast majority of the UK is set to see continued sunny spells and dry conditions, with the exception of some localised showers in the North of England on Tuesday. The north of the UK is expected to see highs of between 9C and 12C.
The pleasant conditions are due to the jet stream tracking well to the north of the UK, letting high pressure dominate from the east.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: "This week is going to be very similar. We're going to keep high pressure just to the east of the UK and that means it will be largely dry and settled with plenty of sunny spells.
"There is the odd exception, there could just be an isolated shower across the Midlands on Monday, perhaps northern England on Tuesday, but they're going to be very isolated and most places will be dry and sunny."
Mr Dewhurst added sheltered areas "will continue to be on the pleasant and warm side". The temperature is expected to remain above average into the weekend but will then drop slightly into the following week.
