FLOCKDOWN
Brits pack out parks in sunshine and temperatures could hit 17C as lockdown rules ease for outdoor gatherings next week
SPRING is in the air - and cooped-up Brits are making the most of the warmer weather ahead of the easing of lockdown.
The UK is set to enjoy much milder temperatures in the days to come - and while the mercury will drop towards the end of the week, forecasters predict a bright start to April.
⚡ Read our UK weather live blog for the very latest news and forecasts...
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It comes as Boris Johnson prepares for the next step of unlocking the UK on March 29.
Across the country, people have been making the most of the warmth.
Temperatures reached around 15C yesterday and will top out at 14C on the south coast today.
But the BBC predicts temperatures will rise to around 16C in the days to come.
And according to forecasts from WXCharts, warmer temperatures will arrive as the month goes on, with 17C likely by March 30.
In Sunderland, families queued for fish and chips and ice cream at Roker Beach.
Walkers visited Wimbledon Common today, while in Portreath, Cornwall, locals strolled along the beach early this morning.
Bodyboarders were also spotted wading into the sea as the sun rose over Boscombe beach in Bournemouth, Dorset.
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In Brighton, visitors flocked to the seafront, while in Birmingham, locals visited Cannon Hill Park to enjoy the flowers.
Northern England and southern Scotland will see the best of the sunshine, while many western areas remain under cloud.
Yesterday, one village in the Highlands had both the warmest and coldest temperature.
Aboyne saw highs of 17.6C - and lows of -3.3C.
Becky Mitchell of the Met Office said: "It'll remain fairly dry across much of the UK over the next two days.
"There are sunny spells around, particularly across much of England and Wales.
"In the best of the sunshine, it'll be a little bit above average of this time of year.
"However, going ahead, it'll be a bit wetter across parts of the country, and a band of rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland will gradually move further south."
She warned next weekend will be "much more unsettled" with blustery showers - and there's even the potential for snow in Scotland. But in the first weeks of April, when more restrictions are loosened, sunnier days will return.
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Under the PM's roadmap, outdoor gatherings of up to six people or two separate households outdoors are to be allowed from March 29.
Outside sports will also be able to resume then.
And many Brits are buying up garden furniture and barbecues to make the most of their new freedom.
Searches for patio furniture have recently soared by 142 per cent, according to tech firm NearSt.
Looking ahead to the Easter bank holiday weekend, Ms Mitchell said: "Temperatures will be around average and as we go into the weekend, the weather looks settled.
"That means high pressure should take charge, which should result in dry weather for most of the UK that weekend.
"We should get some sunshine, and it'll feel quite pleasant, but not exceptionally warm."
Forecasters from the service said Brits will face a range of different conditions as Easter arrives.
"At the start of this period, unsettled and changeable conditions are likely to continue across north-western areas," they said.
"However, high pressure may spread northwards through early April, which will bring a period of settled conditions for most.
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"Following this, drier than average and brighter conditions may prevail, with areas away from the far northwest of the country receiving below average rainfall.
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"Temperatures will mostly be around average or above, with any cooler periods likely to be short-lived, and mostly across northern areas."
Channel netweather.tv predicted the warmest conditions are expected from March 22 to 28.
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