Summer to arrive instead of spring as temperatures to reach 18C next week

Britain may have finally seen the last of the chilly spring weather, as in a welcomed twist, forecasters have predicted that summer will arrive instead of spring.

It's the news Britons have been waiting for - the ice, snow and sleet to be replaced by sunshine and summer heat.

"We may suddenly feel like summer has arrived rather than waiting for spring," The Weather Channel forecaster Leon Brown told AOL Travel.

Temperatures are set to reach 18C by next Sunday in the south and 20C in the south-east early the following week.

Mr Brown said: "It may not feel very spring-like again for much of next week as the weather pattern begins a slow transition from the colder blocking pattern to a more typical south-westerly flow from the Atlantic, especially in central and northern Britain where winds will still be from the east.

"Night temperatures will be less cold though and frosts mainly in the north.

"However everything should start to bloom from next weekend with much warmer weather and south-west winds on the way."

He added: "We could see temperatures reach 18C by next Sunday in the south, and then 20ºC in the south-east early the following week. We may suddenly feel like summer has arrived rather than waiting for spring!"

Meanwhile, on its website, the Met Office said there will be "plenty of sunshine" across most of the UK today before clouds increase from the west. Light winds are expected in the south-west with occasional light rain. Intermittent rain and light snow continue in central and northern Scotland.

For Monday, the Met Office predicts "some brightness or hazy sunshine" in many areas but occasional rain and higher temperatures in southern areas from Tuesday.

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