The impact of this warm spell is already being felt. Garden centres are reporting a surge in sales of bedding plants and barbecues. The parks and beaches are filling up with sun-starved Britons determined to make the most of every last ray. The nation’s collective mood, which can often be as grey and overcast as the sky, has lifted palpably. There is a spring in people’s steps, a willingness to linger outside the pub, and a sudden, overwhelming desire to eat every meal al fresco. It is a reminder of the profound psychological impact that the weather has on the British psyche. A few days of sunshine can do more for national morale than a dozen government initiatives.
Advertisement
The Met Office is, of course, careful to manage expectations. They remind us that April is a notoriously fickle month, capable of delivering snow and sunshine in equal measure. This warm start is not a guarantee of a long, hot summer. But for now, the forecast is unambiguously positive. The warmest start to April in six years is a statistic to be savoured. It is a chance to throw open the windows, dust off the garden furniture, and pretend, just for a moment, that we live in a country with a reliably pleasant climate. The pessimists will be waiting for the inevitable downturn, but for the next few days, the optimists are in charge. The sun is shining, the temperature is rising, and Britain is, temporarily, a rather lovely place to be.
