Britain basks as Easter heatwave continues

The UK is set for another glorious day of sunshine and a chance for record-breaking heat on Easter Sunday.

Met Office meteorologist Dean Hall said the record for the warmest Easter Sunday of 25.3C could be broken as temperatures could “possibly” reach 26C across southern England.

It comes after Easter Saturday became the warmest day of the year so far when the temperature hit 25.5C in Gosport, Hampshire.

He said: “There is unbroken sunshine for the bulk of the UK and temperatures in the mid-20s.”

Many people should be able to enjoy an Easter Day that is fine, dry and has plenty of sunshine which may be hazy for some in the north and west.

The Met Office said it will be cloudier, cooler and windier in the far north-west, with rain over north and north-west Scotland.

The UK’s warmest Easter temperature was the 29.4C recorded at Camden Square in London on Easter Saturday in 1949.

The other warmest Easter weekend days include the 26.9C recorded at London’s St James’s Park on Good Friday in 2011 – when the mercury also reached 25.3C on Easter Sunday and 24C on Easter Monday, both in the Solent.

Mr Hall said that in “stark contrast” to the dry and sunny conditions in the UK, Spain and the Mediterranean are seeing showers and heavy downpours.

He added: “Spain is very unsettled as we go into Easter Monday. There are temperatures of 17C to 16C in Barcelona. There are certainly cooler conditions there compared to the UK.”

Meanwhile, emergency crews are tackling a large wildfire which is burning on the famous Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire.

Ilkley Moor fires
Ilkley Moor fires

A helicopter has been brought in to help fight the fire.

More than 70 firefighters are at the scene, just south of the town of Ilkley, and police have being deployed to keep people away from the area.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said on Sunday morning that 12 crews were on the moor using water jets and beaters.

A spokesman said: “Specialist wildfire units are also in attendance and a helicopter will be assisting with overhead water attack.”

Sergeant Terri Green, from West Yorkshire Police, said on Twitter: “Please stay away from Ilkley Moor today. Deploying many officers to cordon it off due to dangerous conditions due to the fire. Going to need plenty of water and sun cream today for my team and I.”

The dry, sunny and very warm temperatures have brought high risk of wildfires in Yorkshire and north-west England, and a moderate likelihood for Wales and south-west England, according to the Met Office.

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