Scotland is gearing up for its warmest day of the year, with forecasters predicting temperatures well above seasonal averages. The Met Office expects conditions to peak on Thursday, coinciding with the spring equinox, before cooling into the weekend.
Temperatures Expected to Climb
The Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge has confirmed that Scotland will enjoy mostly dry weather with plenty of sunshine on Thursday. Temperatures are set to reach around 14°C in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and the southwest, while Edinburgh and the east coast will be slightly cooler.
Further south, parts of England could see highs of 19°C to 21°C, making the UK temporarily warmer than Barcelona (15°C) and Athens (12°C).
A Record-Breaking Spring Equinox?
The warm spell arrives alongside the astronomical start of spring. While this week’s temperatures are expected to be significantly above average, they are unlikely to surpass the UK’s warmest recorded spring equinox of 21.5°C in 1972.
- The highest UK temperature so far this year: 19.7°C in Crosby, Merseyside (March 9).
- Wednesday’s highest recorded temperature: 18.7°C in Northolt, West London.
- Thursday’s expected UK peak: 21°C in some areas of southern England.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon noted that the warmth will be short-lived, with temperatures set to decline into the weekend.
Warmer Airflow and Weekend Outlook
High pressure to the east of the UK is responsible for drawing warm air northwards, creating the unseasonably mild conditions. The sunshine is expected to be interrupted only by some fair-weather clouds across central England.
By Friday, temperatures will remain mild for many areas, but a shift in weather patterns will bring rain. Showers are set to develop in Cornwall before moving northeast, affecting Wales and central and southern England.
Rain Set to Return Over the Weekend
The transition to wetter weather will continue through the weekend, with rain spreading across most of the UK. Western parts of Scotland are expected to see rain on Saturday, moving eastward over the course of the weekend.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates outlined the expected shift:
| Day | Weather Outlook |
|---|---|
| Thursday | Warm, dry, sunny with some fair-weather clouds. |
| Friday | Warm but turning unsettled, with rain moving in from the southwest. |
| Saturday | More rain for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland sees showers spreading east. |
| Sunday | Cloudy with occasional rain or showers across much of the UK. |
Spring Equinox: What It Means
While meteorological spring begins on March 1, the astronomical spring equinox falls around March 20 each year. The equinox occurs when the sun crosses the equator, marking a nearly equal length of day and night.
With warmer temperatures set to peak on Thursday, Scotland will get a brief taste of early summer before the inevitable return of unsettled weather.
