Pancake Day week set for French ‘heat bubble’ bringing Brits dawn-to-dusk blue skies

Spring has finally arrived in the UK as a 1,000 mile-wide heat bubble from France is set to bring a week of sunshine, with temperatures up to 18C, in the warmest days of the year so far

A French “heat bubble” is set to bring a Pancake Day week of sunshine to the UK.

Temperatures will start rising early this week with Shrove Tuesday up to 12C before 16C on Wednesday and then 18C from Thursday into the weekend. And with the warmer weather heading our way it will leave some of our European friends in the cold. Even the north of the country is due 16C, which means Britain will be hotter than 15C in the Mediterranean island of Sicily in Italy.

Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “After a dreary February, spring has finally arrived with plenty of sunshine, temperatures rising steadily and up to 18C possible from Thursday.”

It’s all thanks to a 1,000 mile-wide heat bubble on its way from France bringing 10 hours’ dawn-to-dusk blue skies along with the warmest days of the year so far.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna promised there will be “fabulous sunshine” that will delight millions after months of winter freezes and floods.

The cloudless skies come just weeks after the gloomiest weather for decades saw zero minutes of sunshine for seven days in London.

BBC Weather said: “Temperatures will rise well above average from midweek, with a southerly airflow, sunny spells and pleasant spring-like temperatures.”

These soaring temperatures are even set to rival that of Spain. Madrid is expected to only reach highs of 14 degrees in comparison, accompanied by light rain.

That’s just what we needed to hear. By our reckoning the weather gods owe us an absolutely blinding summer to make up for the last 18 months.

Let’s hope it’s tanfastic!