Britons will wake up to a sunny 68F (20C) Saturday and a ‘dry and fine’ spell for the rest of the month – just as the nation has been locked down amid coronavirus.
A series of charts released by the Met Office reveal a positive picture for this weekend and next week thanks to the high position of the Atlantic jet stream.
It comes as the Government was criticised after key projections for Covid-19 hospital admissions and deaths presented to the public at a Downing Street press conference contained errors.
Today will also be bright with autumnal sunny spells, the best of these in southern areas, before a warm forecast for this weekend of 17C (63F) highs in the South, 12C (54F) in the North and even 20C (68F) in parts of Wales.
A woman walked through the fog yesterday morning while out at the War Memorial Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire
Met Office spokesman Greg Dewhurst said: ‘The settled weather will be a boost for people’s wellbeing. It’s much better weather for people planning to go outside for exercise or a walk than we saw last weekend or over previous weeks.’
Last weekend Storm Aiden brought gales and torrential rain on Saturday, while the remains of ex-tropical hurricane Zeta added more downpours on Sunday.
Mr Dewhurst said the fine conditions are due to an area of high pressure to the east of Britain, bringing a southerly airflow and restricting the influence of Atlantic weather systems.
This graphic shows how average maximums will remain well above average next week. The red nodules show maximum temperatures, while blue nodules shows minimums. The red nodules can be seen going above the red line this weekend
The jet stream is well up north at the moment, extending across Greenland and Scandanavia early next week – meaning Britain is on the warm side of the jet, which is why temperatures will be mild
The pressure pattern at the surface is likely to stick, with high pressure to the east and low pressure to the west
This weekend is due to be very mild, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 15-16C (59-61F) in southern Britain tomorrow and Monday.
And daytime temperatures for much of the month are due to remain mild, with highs of 14C (57F) in the South and Wales, and 12C (54F) further north. The average maximum daytime temperature for November is 9C (48F).
Today is due to be fine and dry once early fog clears for many areas. Cloudier skies are likely in parts of Wales, the Midlands and southern England but it is due to remain dry.
There is expected to be an interlude in the bright conditions between tomorrow and Tuesday, with patchy rain and showers in western areas at times.
But from mid-week, the sunshine is set to return. The Met Office said: ‘By mid-November the emphasis remains on a good deal of dry and mild weather.’
A man rowed a boat at Loch Faskally at Pitlochry in Scotland yesterday with beautiful autumnal colours in the background
A logging truck was driven along a road seen as mist hung over the Tummel Valley at Pitlochry in Scotland yesterday
A beautiful day at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire yesterday as people enjoyed a walk out in the autumn sunshine
Today will be mostly dry with sunny spells but patches of mist and low cloud will linger for much of the day and there is a chance of showers in the north and west.
It will then be largely dull and cloudy tomorrow, and the day will feature outbreaks of rain and showers spreading northwards with sunny spells developing in the south later.
The best of the temperatures today will be in areas of North West Wales such as Porthmadog with 20C (68F) possible. The UK November maximum temperature is 22.4C (72.3F) at Trawsgoed on November 1, 2015.
Then from November 11 to 20, the Met Office said there will be ‘mild and settled conditions’, despite the risk of mist and fog – while rain and strong winds are likely to be confined to western areas.
A fallow deer stag in Mersham le Hatch Deer Park near Ashford, Kent, was pictured yesterday morning
Surfers and paddleboarders enjoyed the waves at Tynemouth, near North Shields, yesterday morning
Highs of 17C (63F) in the South and 12C (54F) in the North are expected this weekend, while Wales could get up to 20C (68F)
Temperatures are also ‘likely to be at or above average for this time of year’. Forecasters added that the ‘end of November is likely to be generally settled with high pressure set to dominate’.
However, the Met Office said temperatures will be ‘probably remaining mild before possibly turning colder than average into December with risks of overnight frosts’.
It comes after the Met Office issued a fog warning for the South East and North East of England yesterday with freezing fog patches around the London area amid concerns over the weather causing train delays.
The second national lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic began on Thursday as pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops closed their doors and people were told to stay at home for the next four weeks.
Schools, universities and nurseries are remaining open – and Boris Johnson has insisted the next month of lockdown should be enough to drive down the spread of coronavirus so the severe restrictions can be eased.
In other developments, Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme for the Treasury to cover 80 per cent of wages of employees unable to work until March in a major U-turn from the Government.