UK weather: Britain ‘to be warmer than Madrid’ as temperatures soar ahead of Cheltenham festival

Parts of Britain could be warmer than Rome and Madrid this week as temperatures are set to soar after a cold snap.

Temperatures will increase throughout the week as clearer skies are mostly on the cards, according to Oli Claydon, spokesman for the Met Office, though he added that temperatures are capped slightly midweek by the amount of cloud over the UK.

But the end of week will see sunnier skies as “high pressure has more influence on the weather” so temperatures will climb further reaching up to 17C for parts of the south and west, and parts of England that are inland and away from the coast.

According to BBC weather forecasts for Rome this weekend, the Italian capital will have highs of 13C and 15C, while Spain’s capital Madrid will only reach 15C on its mildest days- lower than temperatures expected in parts of Britain.

The week’s weather started off with cloud and rain moving east across Northern Ireland, much of Scotland and into northern England, according to the Met Office weather forecast.

Early fog patches in the south will clear leading to sunny spells, but also scattered showers which may fall heavy in far south.

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Tuesday will see temperatures plummet overnight to freezing in some parts of Britain and rain and strong winds will lash across north and west Scotland, and then northern Ireland.

Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “In rural parts of Wales, the Midlands, northern, we will see temperatures down to freezing- towns and cities holding up at two, three, four Celsius.

“But we’re also going to see things turning quite misty and murky in the South- could even be a few dense patches of fog around through the early hours and into the morning.”

But the frosty start is not expected to last long as the Tuesday will bring dry and bright weather for many with sunny spells, temperatures racing to 16C in London.

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Wednesday looks wet and windy but the showers should clear by Thursday in time for the weekend, except for the far northwest where some rain is still expected.

Although the higher temperatures during the week raise hopes for a mini heatwave, Mr Claydon said that we are “a long way from heatwave criteria” which requires temperatures to be around 25C.

Still, the warm weather is good news for those headed to the Cheltenham Festival from Tuesday to Friday this week with sunny skies and temperatures up to 13C to look forward to.

St. Patrick day party-goers will also be in good spirits as the Met Office forecasted “fine and dry” weather over Thursday and Friday for most, but some rain in the far northwest.

Cloud and rain moving east across Northern Ireland, much of Scotland and into northern England. Early fog patches in the south clearing, then sunny spells, but also scattered showers, a few heavy in far south.

Some rain in the northeast at first and later northwest Scotland. Showers elsewhere becoming isolated, with clear spells allowing some frost and patchy fog.

Rain and strong winds for north and west Scotland and then Northern Ireland. Mostly fine and dry elsewhere with plenty of hazy sunshine, just a few showers in eastern England.

Outbreaks of rain for many on Wednesday, some heavy. Thursday and Friday fine and dry for most, but some rain in the far northwest. Mild days but some overnight frost.