The Met Office has announced today as the hottest day of the year so far for Britons, attributed to a lesser-known weather phenomenon. According to the national weather agency, temperatures reached 20.9C in Gogerddan, Wales, surpassing the previous record of 19.2C set in London on March 5. London also experienced a high temperature of 20.2C today.
The Met Office forecasts a cooling trend later tonight and into tomorrow morning, with most areas expected to have a warm and sunny day tomorrow, with temperatures ranging around 17C to 18C. The upcoming weekend is predicted to be dry with sunny intervals for many regions, although there is a chance of rain in northern Scotland on Saturday and potentially more widespread in the north on Sunday, with a subsequent decrease in temperatures.
The agency attributes today’s high temperatures to the Foehn effect, where moist air is pushed up one side of a mountain, cools, and then descends rapidly over the peak, leading to warmer temperatures on the downward slope. This natural phenomenon is known as ‘the Chinook’ in the Rocky Mountains and ‘the Zonda’ in the Andes. In the UK, it is commonly observed in the Scottish Highlands, where westerly winds from the Atlantic bring wet conditions to the west while the east enjoys warmer and sunnier weather.
Looking ahead, the Met Office anticipates a potential decrease in temperatures later in the month, with the possibility of snow in some regions. The weather forecast for March 22 to March 31 suggests more changeable and unsettled conditions as Atlantic frontal zones move across the UK, with the north likely to experience more active weather systems compared to the south. Towards the end of March, there may be a brief cold spell with northerly winds, bringing a chance of snow, particularly in northern areas.
Additionally, the Met Office indicates the development of strong winds by the end of March, with high pressure becoming more dominant, leading to dry weather but with potential overnight fog and frost.
