A MINI heatwave will hit London this week as temperatures rocket, forecasters have predicted.
The capital could reach a balmy 17C next weekend with sunny spells making it feel positively spring like.
With temperatures hitting as low as -5C at the end of last week, Londoners are looking at a dramatic rise of 21C in just a matter of days.
But things aren't looking so hot in the rest of the country after record-breaking low temperatures that saw the mercury plunge to -23C.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England will get more snow this week, sparking Met Office alerts for poor conditions.
Northern Ireland is still grappling with disruption caused by snow, with blizzards expected and wind speeds likely to reach 40mph in coastal areas.
The Met Office forecaster Luke Miall warned that the conditions would “really significantly reduce visibility when driving”.
Follow our weather live blog below for the latest news and updates from around the country
- Chiara Fiorillo
WEATHER FORECAST TONIGHT
The Met Office's weather forecast for tonight says: "Further cloud and rain moving northeast across all parts.
"Some heavy rain expected over hills of the west.
"Becoming windy with gales developing in the northwest. Mild and frost free."
- Chiara Fiorillo
THICK FOG
London's financial district is shrouded in thick morning fog.
Today, the capital feels much warmer than last week.
At the moment it is not raining but it is cloudy.
Credit: Cover Images - Chiara Fiorillo
BREAKING RECORDS
As a result of the bitter chill from the Baltic last week, a huge section of the Thames froze over at Teddington, South West London.
The last time the river completely froze over was in January 1963 which saw the coldest winter for more than 200 years.
- Chiara Fiorillo
BIG CHANGE
With the change of wind direction, over the next few days we will see a big change in UK temperatures.
Last week, bitterly cold easterly winds from the Baltic brought freezing temperatures around the country.
This week, mild southwesterly Atlantic winds will bring in warmer air.
- Chiara Fiorillo
BRITAIN'S BEST BEACHES REVEALED
Millions of Brits think UK beaches are among the best in the world – with Bournemouth beach in Dorset voted the nation’s number one.
With the possibility of summer staycations on everyone’s mind for 2021, a survey of 2,000 adults saw three Cornish beaches named in the top 10, including St Ives, Bude and Newquay.
1. Bournemouth, Dorset
2. St Ives, Cornwall
3. Bude, Cornwall
4. Blackpool Beach
5. Whitby, Yorkshire
6. Brighton, Sussex
7. Newquay, Cornwall
8. Tenby, Pembrokeshire
9. Bognor Regis, West Sussex
10. Filey, North YorkshireClick here to read more
- Dan Keane
SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWS WHERE THE SUN IS SHINING
New satellite imaging released by the Met Office this afternoon shows where the sun is shining.
According to the pictures, it's looking like a bright day in the East Midlands, with the rest of the UK seeing mixed cloud.
- Dan Keane
UK TO SEE 'LIGHT DRIZZLE' TONIGHT
England, Wales and Northern Ireland will all see light rain and drizzle by midnight tonight, according to Meteogroup.
After midnight, rain will push into Scotland and another band will affect England and Wales, the forecaster added in its daily update.
- Chiara Fiorillo
FLOODING AFTER HEAVY RAIN
Motorists battled flooded roads near Ely in Cambridgeshire this morning after heavy rain overnight.
It comes after the River Great Ouse burst its banks and the snow and ice thawed.
- Chiara Fiorillo
MISTY LANDSCAPE
Mist forms as the sun rises over East Bristol this morning.
Temperatures are rising into double figures in the South West.
It comes after last week's cold spell brought freezing temperatures around the UK.
Credit: PA:Press Association
- Chiara Fiorillo
FROST FREE
BBC Weather's Carol Kirkwood said this week is going to be mostly frost free.
The forecaster said: "We're going to be largely frost-free this week.
"There will be rain at times and often, it's going to be windy."
- Chiara Fiorillo
FREEZING COLD LAST WEEK
On Wednesday night last week, the UK’s coldest temperature for 65 years was recorded in Aberdeenshire when locals endured -23C.
The River Thames froze over for the first time in 60 years as the Beast from the East 2 blasted Britain.
- Chiara Fiorillo
WET DAY
Today rain will clear across the South East by late morning, while low clouds and fog elsewhere will slowly clear by midday.
This afternoon many areas will see sunny intervals, but there will be showers in the West, which will be heavy in the North West.
Further cloud and rain will move North East across all parts tonight, with some heavy rain expected over hills in the West.
- Chiara Fiorillo
FLOODED ROAD
A person goes out for a walk along a flooded road in Cambridgeshire.
Melted snow and floodwater still covers the road from Thorney to Whittlesey.
The water levels are dropping but it will quite a few days before the road can be cleaned up and re-opened.
Credit: Paul Marriott - Chiara Fiorillo
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS AFTERNOON
- Bright or sunny spells
- Showers in the North West
- Mild for most
UK COULD BE HOTTER THAN BARCELONA THIS WEEK
The UK could be hotter than Barcelona this week as temperatures as high as 17C are forecast for the weekend.
In contrast, the mercury in the Spanish city is set to reach 16C.
- Chiara Fiorillo
TUESDAY FORECAST
The Met Office's forecast for Tuesday says: "Rain will be slow to clear the southeast.
"Elsewhere sunshine and showers are expected, these frequent and heavy in the west and northwest.
"Windy with gales in the northwest. Mild."
- Chiara Fiorillo
WEATHER FORECAST FOR TONIGHT
The Met Office's weather forecast for tonight says: "Further cloud and rain moving northeast across all parts.
"Some heavy rain expected over hills of the west.
"Becoming windy with gales developing in the northwest.
"Mild and frost free."
- Chiara Fiorillo
LARGEST VOLCANO IN SOLAR SYSTEM
The United Arab Emirates' ‘Hope’ probe has sent back its first pictures of Mars as it orbits the planet.
And the image shows the largest volcano in the solar system – The Olympus Mons – after the spacecraft bet NASA and China to Mars.
More on the story here
âHopeâ probe has sent back its first pictures of Mars as it orbits the planet - Chiara Fiorillo
COASTAL FOG
Coastal fog is a regular occurrence along the eastern coast of the UK and is most common during spring and summer.
In eastern Scotland, it is known locally as Haar whilst in eastern England, the coastal fog is referred to as Fret.
- Chiara Fiorillo
'UNHARMED BUT EXTREMELY COLD'
The force said the first girl was able to be supported in walking out the water as she was closer to the edge, however crews had to use an inflatable piece of equipment called a pathway to bring the other safely back across the water.
Police added the girls were "unharmed but extremely cold".
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Inspector Duncan Southall said: "The girls are extremely lucky to have been unharmed.
"Luckily a passer-by saw them in difficulty and called the emergency services. If it hadn't been for this person raising the alarm there could have been tragic consequences. It was getting dark at the time and was freezing cold. They are incredibly lucky this person saw them.
"I hope this serves as a stark reminder to others that it is not safe to play on the ice as it can easily crack and put people in great danger. Icy water can be incredibly dangerous."
- Chiara Fiorillo
TWO GIRLS RESCUED FROM FROZEN RIVER TRENT 'EXTREMELY LUCKY'
Two 11-year-old girls were "extremely lucky" to escape unscathed after becoming trapped on a frozen part of the River Trent, police said.
Nottinghamshire Police said the girls were rescued on Saturday afternoon after they were spotted by a passer-by who alerted authorities.
A joint rescue operation between police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service was launched near St Mary's Church, Holgate, about 4.45pm.
According to police, one of the girls had fallen through the ice into the freezing water, while the other was stranded on an island.
- Chiara Fiorillo
VIEW FROM SPACE
The UK experienced some sunny spells after clouds went away earlier.
The sun will come out later across Northern Ireland and southeastern England.
However, the following days are expected to be quite wet.
- Chiara Fiorillo
DARTMOOR ON FIRE
A blaze in Dartmoor could be seen for 20 miles as it turned the sky bright red last week.
Emergency crews warned the public to stay away from the fire as they battled the 5km-wide flames.
Pictures on social media showed a large stretching blaze which has illuminated the night sky.
Social media users said the blaze could be seen from parts of Cornwall.
Credit: PlymouthLive/BPM - Chiara Fiorillo
WILD FIRES LAST WEEK
The frosty weather caused a rare phenomenon in Britain – raging wild fires – last week.
The extreme cold caused curing or drying out vegetation contributing to fires in Devon, Cornwall and Scotland.
- Chiara Fiorillo
FLOOD WARNINGS AND ALERTS
The Environment Agency has six flood warnings and 61 flood alerts for England.
Around the River Hull, for example, more rainfall and snowmelt is expected on Monday night, which is expected to keep levels high.
The EA advises: "Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses, and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."
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