We’re finally going to be getting some of that sweet spring sunshine this weekend, with many areas set to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far.
While you’ll probably still need a layer or two if you’re heading outside, it looks like things will be warm enough for an afternoon in the beer garden with a couple of al fresco pints.
According to the Met Office, the UK can look forward to some ‘very pleasant spring sunshine’ on Saturday (19 March), especially in London and the south-east.
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Some areas may even see temperatures of up to 18°C, the hottest we’ve seen yet for 2022.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said the Saharan dust that’s been swept across to the UK is expected to be washed out of the area by cloud and rain, but that high pressure building behind the soggy weather will then bring warm, sunny spells.
"We are likely to see some very pleasant spring sunshine, especially for the London and southeast area, during the course of the Saturday," he said.
"We're looking at temperatures of up to 16, 17, and perhaps even a rounded 18C could be possible," Stroud told The Sun.
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The Met Office said the warmest temperature recorded so far this year has been 17.2°C in Pershore, Worcestershire, which means Saturday could bring our top temperature for 2022.
A general UK outlook for Friday from the Met Office said people can expect a 'chilly start with early fog patches over England and Wales', but that this will clear to leave 'a fine day with plenty of pleasantly warm sunshine for most'.
The forecast for Saturday through to Monday expects the weather to be 'mostly settled, dry and sunny, with some early frost and mist/fog patches but warm by day'.
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However, it doesn't sound like the sunshine will be sticking around for too long, with the Met Office adding: "Showers and areas of rain moving erratically northwards Sunday and Monday, subduing temperatures somewhat."
The warmer weather follows bizarre orange skies seen in some parts of the UK this week – a result of dust being swept across Europe from the Sahara.
The dust can sometimes pose a health risk, including to people with asthma, with atmospheric scientist Dr Claire Ryder from the University of Reading saying: "Air quality may be slightly lower than usual due to the dust particles in the air."
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However, the Met Office's Richard Miles said no air quality warnings have been issued, although warned that people may find dust left on their cars.
Miles said: “Storm Celia over Spain is indeed pulling a dust cloud up from the Sahara, which could potentially reach as far as the south of the UK.
“However, we don’t expect significant impacts – the most likely would be on the cloudscapes at sunset but, as conditions are likely to be generally overcast and wet for much of the day, this is unlikely to amount to much. There are no air-quality warnings.
“People in the south might find a bit of dust left on their cars as the rain washes it out of the skies today.”
Jess Hardiman