Met Office share exactly when 72-hour mini-heatwave will hit with 20C sunshine

Warm weather is on the way to Britain after a weekend of strong winds and rain. A 72-hour 'mini heatwave' will bring temperatures of 20C to our shores, forecasters have said.

The warm weather will begin on Thursday, April 11, with BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts saying it is set to feel "warm" over the following 72 hours. She added: "We might see some brighter skies and sunshine coming through before the next source of rain starts to materialise across western parts again.

"But look at the temperatures on Thursday it’s looking mild, in fact warm in strengthening April sunshine. And that milder warmer Atlantic air is within through Thursday and indeed Friday to end the week and perhaps even to start the weekend but not full on as we get some colder air starting to dig in behind it as you can see.

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"And so by the weekend or by the end of the weekend it’s a return to slightly cooler weather." Temperature charts show highs of 19C in Birmingham on Thursday. And in London, the mercury could reach 20C on Friday, April 12, The Mirror reports.

Maps from NetWeather and WXCharts have predicted temperatures peaking at 19C also in Doncaster, Colchester and Ipswich while it will reach 18C in Norwich, Cambridge, Nottingham, Hull, Bristol, Bolton, Inverness and Fraserburgh.

The Met Office says of the 72 hours from Thursday to Saturday this week: "Turning drier, albeit rather cloudy, in the south on Thursday and Friday, but remaining changeable in the north. Heavy showers, mainly in the north, on Saturday. Turning warmer."

From April 14 to 23, the forecaster states: "The weather is likely to remain generally unsettled, at least in the north, with the focus for the most persistent rain and showers across north-western parts of the UK. Here, rain could be heavy at times, especially in upland areas, with some snow mainly over high ground. This colder, northerly flow will possibly give way to something milder from the Atlantic, but timing on this change is uncertain.

"Windy spells of weather are also likely, particularly in the north. Southern and eastern areas will see some decent spells of drier weather with some good sunshine at times. While some rain is still likely, this less heavy and much less frequent than recently. Near average temperatures most likely overall, although some cooler interludes at times, especially in the north."