UK weather forecast latest: Record temperatures could sweep UK as Scotland sees all time high

The mercury could soar to record levels across the UK this week, with Scotland already seeing its warmest ever February day.

Aboyne in Aberdeenshire hit the maximum temperature of 18.3C on Thursday afternoon, beating the previous high of 17.9C recorded in Aberdeen on February 22, 1897.

A spell of warm weather this weekend is set to bring temperatures in other parts of the UK close to their own records for February.

The current record maximum temperature measured in the UK in February is 19.7C, which was set in London on February 13, 1998.

The Welsh record temperature for February was set at 18.6C in Powys in 1990, and the highest in Northern Ireland was 17.8C in Bryansford in 1998.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the mild weather is set to continue, but it is unlikely to reach such a high in Scotland again this month.

"Over the next few days it'll be very mild temperatures, today is possibly the mildest for the next few days.

"It could be early next week until it's as mild again, though whether we'll see 18.3C is unlikely.

"So the mild theme is set to continue and it will be pleasantly spring-like through early next week."

Fellow forecaster Steven Keats said the mercury is expected to reach at least 15C in London over Saturday and Sunday.

The warm weather is being caused by warm winds coming off the Canary Islands, where temperatures are in the low 20s.

“A bit of sunshine does help as well,” Mr Keats said. “Its starting to get a bit of strength now compared to middle of winter.”

While he said spring had sprung a “bit early” temperatures are expected to cool off by the beginning of March, with temperatures returning back to average or slightly above average figures.

“Certainly not expecting anything like last year,” he said, referring to the Beast from the East, which brought snow and ice to most of the UK.

“It It goes to show how different things can be at this time of year.”