UK Weather – Brits to bask in 21C sizzler today making it hotter than Tenerife – and warmest early spring in 180 YEARS

BRITS are set to bask in a 21C sizzler today making it hotter than Tenerife - and the warmest spring in 180 years

Despite a chilly start to March, there'll be blue skies and sunshine for at least seven days as high pressure blasts in from the east.

The lovely weather is expected to lead to a surge in alcohol and food sales.

Supermarkets have already clocked a 50 percent rise in burger sales and a trebling of ice lolly purchases.

Tesco is expected to sell 250,000 packets of sausages and over two million bottles of beer and wine.

Asda is set to clear 500,000 patties and 250,000 sausages this week, according to the Daily Star.

The Met Office says the warmth is "notably above average".

Becky Mitchell, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Temperatures are rising quite quickly and there’s plenty of sunshine."

The mercury rocketed around the country on the hottest day of the year so far yesterday.

It hit 20.7C in north Wales and 20.5C in west London on Tuesday afternoon as daytime temperatures reached 10C higher than the average for March.

Those living in the south, including Londoners and residents of Cambridge, will likely see the warmest days this week.

Following a warm weekend when the mercury hit 20.2C in Kinlochewe in Scotland, Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said millions can look forward to a further “seven days” of sunshine “at least”.

“There will be more spring sunshine to come during the rest of the week,” he said.

“High pressure close to the east then becomes increasingly centred over the UK from Wednesday into Thursday and Friday.

“That high pressure isn’t going anywhere for the foreseeable. For the next seven days at least it’s going to bring plenty of warm sunshine.”

Mornings may continue to feel chilly, and Scots could wake up to -3C.

However, for the rest of the country, it'll likely stay above freezing.

Mr McGivern said some in central areas may see spots of rain this morning - but any clouds will "fizzle away" by the afternoon.

"For most, the temperatures are well above average for the time of year," he said.

People are already hitting beaches and parks to make the most of the early spring surprise, while online searches for gardening furniture have rocketed.

Visitors to Cambridge stripped off their jackets as they enjoyed punting trips along the River Cam on Monday, while in London, office workers spent lunchbreaks on the grass close to Tower Bridge.

Two swimmers even put on their trunks before wading into the water at Durdle Door, Dorset.

The country will be warmer than Rome this week, with Italy's capital set to reach just 16C.

Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: "This week we're going to keep high pressure just to the east of the UK and that means it will be largely dry and settled with plenty of sunny spells.

"There is the odd exception, there could just be an isolated shower across the Midlands on Monday, perhaps northern England on Tuesday, but they're going to be very isolated and most places will be dry and sunny."

And Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, added: "We are expecting a very pleasant spell of spring weather.

"It is certainly going to bring the warmest spell of weather so far this year in time for the spring equinox."