London weather forecast: UK set for more record-breaking temperatures after mercury soars to 20C

Katy Clifton26 February 2019

Britain could experience more record-breaking temperatures this week after the hottest February day on record.

Forecasters said the unusually warm weather will continue on Tuesday after a record high of 20.6C was reached at Trawsgoed in Ceredigion, west Wales, on Monday afternoon.

Although Tuesday will start with early patches of fog across the country, Met Office meteorologist Emma Smith told the Standard we could see more record-breaking temperatures during the afternoon.

“Temperatures could reach up to 20C or 21C in London at around 2pm,” she said on Monday night. “After the fog clears in the morning it will be a beautiful clear start to the day in London.”

London and north west Wales are most likely to feel the highest temperatures on Tuesday.

People enjoy the sunshine in Regent's Park on Monday
Getty Images

Temperatures of 20.4C in Northolt, west London, and 20.1C in Gogerddan, west Wales, were also recorded on Monday. The previous winter record was 19.7C at Greenwich, east London, in 1998.

Monday was also the earliest a temperature above 20C has been recorded since 20.2C was recorded in Exeter on March 2 1977.

The warmth presents a stark contrast to this time last year, when February's Beast from the East plunged temperatures below freezing and brought heavy snowfall across the country.

Warm Weather: February 2019 - In pictures

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Cooler temperatures expected from Wednesday onwards will be "still above average" for February, Met Office said, with highs of 17C likely in the south east and London.

Wednesday is also likely to start with some fog, with forecaster Ms Smith saying the Met Office could release a fog warning for parts of the country overnight on Tuesday and into the following morning.

“It may be murky in the morning in southern parts of England before it breaks up towards lunchtime," she said.

"There will be highs of around 17C although areas in the north west will experience colder temperatures.

“After the fog breaks up around midday there will be sunny skies across the south east.”

Heavy showers are possible on Thursday as temperatures struggle to breach 11C or 12C.

Friday will then mark the first day of meteorological spring and is expected to be mostly dry with temperatures of around 14C before a wet weekend.

The UK has been experiencing unseasonably mild weather conditions
Getty Images

In London, temperatures will reach around 13C on Saturday, with some rain forecasted before a drier afternoon.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: "The weekend doesn't look great, it's looking wet and windy across the country. There's lots of uncertainty over the details because it's still a long way off but wet and windy seems to be the theme through many areas."

Monday's record highs were likened to a "climate breakdown" by Green MP Caroline Lucas.

Mr Miall added: "This kind of event is what climate change would expect but we can't directly relate it to climate change."

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