Met Office issues Tuesday hour-by-hour forecast as North East temperatures could hit 18°C

The North East can finally look forward to balmy temperatures to end the month following a largely damp and chilly April, with this week offering a long-awaited glimpse of summer.

The latest forecast from the Met Office predicts that the mercury will climb into the high teens on Tuesday, April 30, with plenty of sunshine across the region. This will be music to the ears of many who have been waiting weeks to pack away those winter coats, after April brought multiple weather warnings for strong winds, heavy rain and flash flooding around the country.

Before May arrives on Wednesday, temperatures could hit highs of 18°C in the North East on Tuesday, with conditions looking largely dry aside from a few isolated showers in the afternoon. Here's what Tuesday's weather looks like hour-by-hour in Newcastle, according to the Met Office.

• READ MORE: North East mayor: Voters face defining choice for region’s future on historic election day

• Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter

Hour-by-hour forecast for Tuesday, April 30 in Newcastle

• 6am: 10°C / Cloudy / 10% chance of precipitation
  

• 7am: 10°C / Cloudy / 10% chance of precipitation

• 8am: 10°C / Cloudy / <5% chance of precipitation

• 9am: 11°C / Sunny intervals / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 10am: 12°C / Sunny intervals / <5% chance of precipitation

• 11am: 13°C / Sunny intervals / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 12pm: 14°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 1pm: 15°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 2pm: 15°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 3pm: 15°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 4pm: 15°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 5pm: 14°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 6pm: 14°C / Sunny / 10% chance of precipitation

• 7pm: 13°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation

• 8pm: 12°C / Sunny / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 9pm: 11°C / Partly cloudy / <5% chance of precipitation

• 10pm: 10°C / Partly cloudy / <5% chance of precipitation
  

• 11pm: 10°C / Partly cloudy / <5% chance of precipitation
  

Looking ahead to the start of May, the North East is expected to see a largely cloudy but mild day on Wednesday, May 1, with outbreaks of rain along the coast where mist and fog are likely to linger. According to the Met Office long range forecast for the start of the new month, northern parts of the UK will be "predominantly dry" during the first weekend of May, with temperatures generally above average for the time of year.

Forecasters add: "Through the following week, all areas are likely to see a mixture of periods of rain and drier interludes. Overall, northern, especially north western, parts of the UK will probably be driest and sunniest, while the more changeable conditions remain more likely in the south. Temperatures should remain close to or a little above normal for early May."