UK weather: Hottest day of the year expected - and warning of 70mph winds as Storm Kathleen moves in
A mixed picture is forecast for Saturday as parts of East Anglia and southeast England could top Portugal and bask in temperatures in the low 20s.
Saturday 6 April 2024 04:31, UK
The UK is expected to see the hottest day of the year so far today - with towns and cities set to bask in balmy temperatures while others are battered by 70mph winds.
The Met Office said temperatures are likely to reach up to 22C (72F) on Saturday as unseasonably warm air from the continent brings sunny spells to parts of the country.
Ellie Glaisyer, a meteorologist for the forecaster, said that Storm Kathleen "is the reason we are seeing the warmer temperatures, because the location of the storm - situated out towards the west of the UK - is bringing a southerly wind across the UK".
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon added that "it's not unusual for these storm systems to bring warmer air with them".
The highest temperature of the year so far was 19.9C (68F), recorded at the end of January at Achfary in northwest Scotland.
Meanwhile a mixed picture is set for today - with the forecaster earlier updating its warnings to say stronger gusts are more likely over the weekend as Kathleen batters the western parts of Britain.
Gusts of 50mph are widely expected and exposed places could see 60mph to 70mph.
Yellow weather warnings have been issued for wind in areas - covering Cornwall, much of Wales, parts of Lancashire and Cumbria, and up into central Scotland and Northern Ireland from 8am to 10pm.
Ms Glaisyer also said that the storm is likely to bring heavy rain overnight, "which will spread its way northwards across the country". By the morning, most places should see "a relatively dry start to Saturday".
Temperatures in the low twenties are also expected in southeast England, but the forecaster added that "the further west you are, where those strongest winds are in that yellow warning area, despite the temperatures being above average it will feel a little colder".
The Met Office's update on yellow wind warnings said: "Stronger gusts are now expected across some parts of the warning area, with likelihood also increased."
It said there was a risk of "injuries and danger to life" from large waves and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
It added road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible.
There could also be power cuts and mobile phone coverage may also be affected.
Get your local forecast from Sky News
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Mr Dixon added: "The outlook for Sunday for much of the UK is for showery conditions to continue particularly in northern and western areas again.
"It will generally feel a touch drier the further south-east you go through the day on Sunday as Kathleen gradually moves away northwards."
He added that the start of next week would see unsettled weather conditions with "rain continuing for many".
Storm Kathleen has been named by Ireland's national forecaster Met Eireann, which has issued its own warnings covering the whole country and urged the public to be "vigilant".
Cork, Kerry, Galway and Mayo are set to be the worst affected.
They are under an amber alert, meaning "very difficult travel conditions" and potential fallen trees, power outages and coastal flooding.
Read more from Sky News:
Teenager stabbed to death in afternoon attack
Consultants accept pay offer to end dispute
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Storm Kathleen is the 11th named storm in eight months, and this only the second time in a UK storm season that the letter K has been reached in the alphabet.