UK weather: Temperatures could hit 24C this week as COVID-19 lockdown continues
Written by News on 22/04/2020
Parts of the UK are expected to be hotter than Lanzarote and Corfu towards the end of the week, with temperatures predicted to hit 24C (75F).
The country is set to experience its warmest April in almost a decade, as people continue to be told by the government to stay at home in the coronavirus lockdown and only go out for essential food, medicine, exercise and work travel.
Temperatures are due to be highest on Thursday and Friday where they are predicted to reach 24C in London.
The rest of the country will also be warm, with temperatures reaching up to 23C in Wales and south-west England, 18C in Scotland and 19C in Northern Ireland.
In April, the UK normally experiences an average temperature of 12C.
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If temperatures rise as high as they are predicted to this week, it will be the warmest April in the UK since 2011.
Another extended spell of sunshine could cause problems for authorities as they try to persuade people to remain at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The number of people in parks has fallen since the lockdown measures were introduced on 23 March, but the numbers spiked on Easter Saturday due to the warm weather.
Early on in the lockdown, Brockwell Park in London was temporarily closed by local authorities after 3,000 people turned up in a single day.
Forecasters said the expected sunshine is due to a large area of high pressure to the north of England, which will make both days clear and bright.
Bookmakers have cut odds to 4/5 on this week being the hottest day of the year so far.
(c) Sky News 2020: UK weather: Temperatures could hit 24C this week as COVID-19 lockdown continues
