The forecast for London suggests temperatures could climb as high as 25 or even 26 degrees Celsius in the most sheltered spots. That is a full six or seven degrees warmer than the average for this time of year, which usually hovers in the low to mid-teens. Meanwhile, over in Ibiza, the forecasters are predicting a more typical spring day, with highs of around 18 or 19 degrees. It is a rare and glorious victory for the British climate, a chance for the nation to indulge in a collective bout of smugness. We may complain about the rain for eleven months of the year, but when the sun finally decides to put in an appearance, there is no place on earth quite like it.
Advertisement
Of course, being British, the joy is tempered by a healthy dose of realism and a smidgen of caution. This is not a permanent shift. The forecasters are keen to stress that this is a “short-lived” spell of warmth, a fleeting glimpse of summer in the heart of spring. The temperatures are expected to dip again by the weekend, and normal service—perhaps even a spot of rain—will resume. But for a few precious days, the capital will be basking in a glorious, golden glow. The office workers will spill out onto the pavements, the ice cream vans will do a roaring trade, and London will briefly feel like a city on the Mediterranean. Enjoy it while it lasts, because we all know what comes next. Probably a bank holiday washout.
