After a seemingly endless winter, spring is finally expected to arrive in earnest this weekend.
Warm weather is on its way although forecasters warn the improvement does not mean an early start to summer.
A Met Office spokesman said: “By the time we get to Sunday at least it looks like temperatures could get up to around 12 or 13 degrees. That’s actually a little better than average for the time of year.”
As the jet stream moves away from the Atlantic, some parts of South East England could see temperatures rise to around 20C.
The spokesman said the weather front coming in from the east that has been responsible for the prolonged winter is now breaking up.
“We have had this easterly front of cold air taking over the country for a long time, but as we see it get broken up and a more westerly flow coming in, bringing in milder weather although this will also be wet and windy.”
“It’s not a switch to balmy conditions by any means, but it will be a bit more normal.
“In the short term, looking through to next week, temperatures are likely to stay about average and conditions will be changeable for the time of year which means they will be changeable.
“There will be some showers, but also some better spells.”