Met Office issues amber wildfire warning for Britain as temperatures set to soar to 22C this week
The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning across most of the UK as temperatures are set to soar up to 22C this week.
The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning across most of the UK as temperatures are set to soar up to 22C this week.
The warning is in place for most of England, including London, Dover in Kent and Wiltshire and will extend into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Wednesday.
It comes after a period of warm weather which will continue this week, with temperatures expected to peak at 22C on Friday.
Fire crews are urging people to act responsibly to prevent the risk of wildfires.
Kathryn Chalk, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.
There is currently an amber fire danger rating across England extending into Northern Ireland and the rest of southern Scotland on Wednesday.
She added: However, showers moving into the far South West will bring some relief to these parts. Then dry weather continues Friday and Saturday extending further north across western Scotland.
Its a large England warning, covering most of England.
We cant be specific on locations due to the nature of wildfires though, and best to stick with the weather conditions with the dry air, breezy and warm conditions, hence the warning, with slightly cooler conditions with the onshore breeze along eastern coasts.
Members of the public enjoy the warm weather at Glasgow Green in Scotland on the first day of April
A couple enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset today
People set up picnic blankets to relax in the sun today on Glasgow Green in Scotland
The London Fire Brigade said that while London may not be experiencing the same high temperatures as the summer months, wildfires can still occur, especially because of the drier start to spring this year than usual.
The fire service urged people to refrain from using disposable barbecues and to properly dispose of cigarettes, matches and litter, to prevent fire hazards.
London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting.
Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors, even when temperatures are not at their highest.
The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week.
As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.
Were also working closely with partners, such as local authorities, to help manage the risks in outdoor spaces and ensure the public are following the safety advice.
South Wales and Somerset could reach 20C and may be hotter than Athens and Barcelona on Thursday, where highs of 17C and 16C are forecast respectively.
Women basking in the sun on deck chairs in St James Park in London on Sunday
Regent Park in London was in bloom with many gathering to enjoy the warm weather and pretty flowers
While some rain and cloudiness hit Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland on Monday morning, the weather is generally expected to remain dry and sunny across the country throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend.
As high pressure moves north-eastwards during Monday and Tuesday the wind direction will change - from westerly to south-easterly.
This will bring a feed of dry and warm air from continental Europe which should gradually clear most of the cloud, allowing for more blue sky and sunshine.
It comes after England enjoyed its sunniest March on record last month, along with its sixth driest, as persistent high pressure brought long spells of clear weather.
Some 185.8 hours of sunshine were measured across England - 59 per cent more than the long-term average - according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
This beats the previous record of 171.7 hours set in 1929.
Wales saw its second sunniest March, with 53 per cent more hours than average.
Scotland and Northern Ireland also saw an above average amount of sunshine, at 20 per cent more and 13 per cent more respectively, though neither nation came close to record levels.
A family queued up for ice cream in Windsor, Berkshire this weekend, to enjoy a special treat in the sunshine
A man taking a break in the sunshine in St Jamess Park, London, on March 20 - the spring equinox
People enjoying the warmer weather on Bournemouth beach on Sunday
A photograph taken in Cambridge during a sunny start to last week, where visitors can be seen enjoying a boat ride on a balmy day
Some 185.8 hours of sunshine were measured across England - 59 per cent more than the long-term average
Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said: Persistent high pressure, along with a lack of fronts arriving from the west, has meant that many have enjoyed a warm, dry and very sunny March.
At the beginning of the month, some areas of Cumbria reached 19C for example and although temperatures have dipped at times, many have continued to enjoy some warm spring sunshine.
Across the UK as a whole there were 158.1 hours of sunshine, the third highest total recorded for March since records began in 1910.
The sunniest March for the UK so far was in 2022, when 165.5 hours were recorded, followed by 166.9 hours in 1929.
Last month was also very dry, with the UK seeing just 43 per cent of its average rainfall for March.
Most of the southern half of England and parts of South Wales recorded only a fifth of their long-term average.
Wales experienced its fourth driest March on record, England its sixth and Northern Ireland its ninth, based on Met Office data for rainfall beginning in 1836.
By contrast, Scotland saw nearly two-thirds (64%) of its average rainfall for the month.
The Met Office said the average temperature for March was also above average for the UK, up 1.3°C compared to usual.