Guernsey Press

Temperatures to remain high as lockdown restrictions ease

The Met Office said the UK has recorded its sunniest Spring since records began in 1929.

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The weekend’s sunny weather, which saw crowds of people flock to beaches and beauty spots across England ahead of lockdown restrictions being eased on Monday, will continue into the beginning of next week, forecasters said.

As revellers enjoyed temperatures of up to 28C (82.4F), emergency services attended incidents involving water, fires and littering, despite warnings being issued to the public.

And the hot weather will remain until the middle of the week, when the weather will become more unsettled.

But the unseasonably warm period will give way to more changeable weather just days after the relaxation of lockdown measures, allowing socially distanced groups of up to six people to meet outside, on Monday.

Mr Petagna said: “The sunny weather will certainly continue for a couple more days but from Tuesday we are starting to see some more unsettled weather across Scotland and the gradual trend will be turning cooler across the UK from Wednesday onwards.”

The forecaster said northerly winds will bring cooler air and some areas in the south of England could experience thundery showers.

The warm end to the month confirmed a significant milestone for the UK with the nation recording its sunniest spring since records began in 1929.

The Met Office recorded more than 573 hours of sunshine between March 1 and May 27, beating the previous record of 555.3 hours which was set in 1948.

It is also expected to be the driest May for 124 years, with official figures on rainfall to be published on Monday.

WEATHER Spring
Warmest UK May temperatures (PA Graphics)

Nancy Platts, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, asked people not to visit the area on Sunday and called on the Government for more powers to implement a local lockdown.

On Saturday, crowds of people had to be evacuated from the beach and surrounding cliffs at Durdle Door, in Dorset, when three tombstoners were injured after jumping from a 200ft sea arch.

And scores of people defied attempts to close the beach on Sunday, with people being encouraged by crowds to jump from the same arch.

People fill the beach at Durdle Door, near Lulworth (Andrew Matthews/PA)
People fill the beach at Durdle Door, near Lulworth (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Authorities across the country urged people to stay away from open water, avoid lighting barbecues or fires and take litter home, as they reported having to fight fires and clear up rubbish left behind by visitors.

More than 100 firefighters in the North West battled to contain separate blazes as a result of the hot weather, with one moorland fire, covering 5km of land in Darwen, thought to have been started by a disposable barbecue.

A tweet by North York Moors National Park on Sunday said: “There are no poo pixies or litter fairies here.

“Our rangers spent this morning at a beauty spot collecting 20 bags of rubbish, including nappies, socks, shoes, towels, chairs, gas canisters, BBQs, beer bottles, food and broken glass.

“Please do your bit and take your litter home.”

Rochdale Council tweeted that local beauty spots had “taken a hammering” from visitors and West Midlands Fire Service reported that firefighters spent the morning clearing up litter at Cannon Hill Park.

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