Newborn lambs herald the start of spring with temperatures set to hit 53F after Britons flocked to beaches and parks to soak up weekend sunshine
- Temperatures should peak at 53F across the UK today, with the Peak District likely to get warmest weather
- Sheep farmer Rhona Thompson was pictured holding a newborn lamb, born in the early hours of this morning
- It comes after crowds flocked to public areas over the weekend to take advantage of the sunshine
Newborn lambs have heralded the first day of meteorological spring today, with temperatures set to hit 53F after Britons flocked to beaches and parks to enjoy the weekend sunshine.
Sheep farmer Rhona Thompson was pictured holding a newborn lamb, born in the early hours of this morning at A J Thompson & Sons farm on the Romney Marsh near Lydd in Kent this morning.
Temperatures should peak at around 53F (12C) across the country today, with the Peak District likely to get the warmest weather. There will be similar temperatures in the South tomorrow, while the North will drop to around 42.8F (6C).
It is a far cry from the flood waters seen a couple of weeks ago after a miserable period of heavy downpours and the surest sign yet that winter is almost behind us.
Today is first day of meteorological spring, although the season officially starts on March 20.
It comes after crowds flocked to public areas around Britain over the weekend to take advantage of the sunshine and above-average temperatures, despite Government appeals to remain indoors.
Hundreds walked along Newcastle Quayside, while large groups of people strolled, cycled and raced around on scooters at Victoria Embankment in Nottingham.
Police manned the roads leading to the beach at Barry Island in South Wales to check if motorists were out on essential journeys, and Covid marshalls were overwhelmed in Brighton, East Sussex, as thousands thronged on the promenade and beach.
Sheep farmer Rhona Thompson holds a newborn lamb which was born in the early hours of this morning at A J Thompson & Sons farm on the Romney Marsh
A newborn lamb which was born in the early hours of this morning with its mother at A J Thompson & Sons farm on the Romney Marsh near Lydd in Kent on the first day of meteorological spring
Newborn lambs in a field at A J Thompson & Sons farm on the Romney Marsh near Lydd in Kent on the first day of meteorological spring
People walk their dog in St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick, on the first day of meteorological spring. Picture date: Monday March 1
Temperatures should peak at around 53F (12C) around the country today, with the Peak District likely to get the warmest weather. There will be similar temperatures in the South tomorrow, while the North will drop to around 42.8F (6C)
By mid-afternoon yesterday Chivenor in Devon had recorded 56.8F (13.8C), with most parts of the country reaching double figures.
Taking advantage of the fine weather were Izzy Hancock, four, and her two-year-old brother Josh, who ran together through a colourful explosion of crocuses at a park in Guildford, Surrey.
Large parts of the South West saw largely unbroken sunshine with just a few clouds scudding across blue skies.
Met Office operational meteorologist Rachel Ayers said: ‘Obviously with the stay at home message everyone should be enjoying the weather from their back gardens.
‘It’s a relatively mild day today with a wide spread of 10 to 11C.
‘This morning had mist and fog mainly in the Eastern half of the country, so temperatures were a bit slower to pick up there.
‘On Monday we’re looking at it being a bit cloudier with mist and fog moving to the Eastern part of the country.
‘The West and South West coast will have the nicest weather, with prolonged sunshine.
‘That’s there for the next couple of days until we get to Wednesday when we might get a few showers coming in from the South West.’
A newborn lamb which was born in the early hours of this morning is encouraged to stand by its mother at A J Thompson & Sons farm on the Romney Marsh near Lydd in Kent
Men exercise by blooming flowers in St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick, on the first day of meteorological spring
Swans on the River Avon in St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick, on the first day of meteorological spring
The early morning mist covers St Mary’s lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, on the first day of meteorological spring
A misty start on the first meteorological day of spring in the countryside seasonal weather, Dunsden, Oxfordshire
A woman is seen walking her dog in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, amid a misty start to the first day of meteorological spring
A woman walks her dog along the beach as the sun rises behind the sky line of Liverpool at New Brighton
Herd Groyne Lighthouse is seen during sunrise in South Shields, County Durham this morning
Very busy with people at 7am as the golden sun rises above Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside this morning as good weather and warm temperatures continue
Sun-seekers flock to the seaside in South Tyneside on Sunday after ignoring Government appeals to stay indoors to stop the spread of Covid
Cooler sunny weather is due to settle over the UK in the first week of March following a February of temperature extremes.
Monday, which marks the first day of meteorological springtime, is expected to bring foggy mornings with spells of sunshine breaking through by midday, and average temperatures of around 42.8F (6C) in London.
Northern Ireland and western areas of the UK mainland are set to see the best of the sunshine, which could also bring warmer temperatures in the low teens.
A similar outlook is forecast for Tuesday but rain showers are likely to move in from the south on Wednesday, Met Office meteorologists have said.
On Sunday evening, the Environment Agency had issued one flood warning for areas near the River Burn from South Creake to Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk ahead of the week.
Some 31 flood alerts for areas where flooding is possible are also in place for scattered locations, with most concentrated in the south of England and north-east Yorkshire.
No warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales or for Northern Ireland.
The cooler climes come after the final weekend of winter saw people flock to parks and beaches to soak up the unseasonal sunshine.
Revellers across the nation from Aberdeen to Plymouth enjoyed temperatures in the mid-teens.
With more sunny weather on the way, Met Office forecasters have echoed the Government’s message to stay at home while lockdown restrictions remain in place.
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