The UK is experiencing a spell of fine weather with “wall-to-wall” sunshine for much of the country and it could be the warmest day of the year so far.

Temperatures today may hit 20C (68F) in northwest Scotland and the Moray coast.

This would beat yesterday’s 2022 high of 17.5C (63.5F) in the village of Wiggonholt, West Sussex.

Meteorologists said however that for some southern and eastern areas it will feel a bit cooler than yesterday because of a stronger breeze, and sea temperatures “aren’t that warm at the moment”.

The pleasant conditions are due to the jet stream tracking well north of the UK, letting high pressure dominate from the east, the Met Office said.

While Sunday and Monday are set to be slightly cooler than Saturday, temperatures are expected to pick up again on Tuesday and Wednesday.

If 20C is reached today, forecasters say it will be the first time the mercury has hit that level since last October.

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Temperatures elsewhere are also set to be above average for March, with 15C to 17C (59F to 62.6F) expected.

But the record temperature for March – which was 25.6C (78.1F) in 1968 – is unlikely to be surpassed.

#Saturdayafternoon will be rather windy, particularly in the west, but feeling pleasant in the sheltered #spring #sunshine pic.twitter.com/4r4ndY03e2

‘Lots of areas seeing very warm day for March’

The Met Office’s Annie Shuttleworth said: “Today lots of areas will be seeing a very warm day for March, especially in northwest Scotland and parts of the Moray coast. We could see temperatures up to 20C in that area this afternoon.

“Away from that we’re likely to see temperatures of the mid to high teens, so highs of about 15C in London, and then in more western areas, so the north coast of Devon and Cornwall and the north coast of Wales, we can see more like 16C or 17C in those areas.

“It’s because we’ve got high pressure bringing wall-to-wall sunshine for much of the UK today.”

Read more: See the weather forecast in your area

On Sunday and Monday, some showers are possible in southeast England but dry weather should prevail everywhere else, with sunshine particularly in western areas.

Settled conditions over the weekend with plenty of sunshine for most and feeling warm inland. It'll be breezy in the south and west whilst North Sea coasts will feel fresh in the onshore wind. Sunday will be a little cooler with the chance of a shower in the east later. pic.twitter.com/bL6nzE8YLu

Sky’s weather presenter Jo Edwards said: “Temperatures on Sunday will be a few degrees lower than today, but the winds will be lighter too.

“Showery rain spreading north from the near continent may bring a few showers to the South East and East Anglia through the afternoon.

“Thickening cloud in the West may bring some light rain to Ireland, Wales and the South West too.”

She added: “Monday will be another fine day with the best of the sunshine through central areas.

“Eastern Scotland and northeastern England will see a few showery outbreaks later in the day.”

Temperatures are predicted to pick up again into Tuesday and Wednesday, reaching the mid to high teens along with more sunshine and dry conditions.

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