Britain is set to bask in summer-like 24C sunshine this weekend – but many parts of the country have warned not to use their barbecues as firefighters continue to battle out-of-control wildfires.
The Met Office said temperatures would peak on Friday in London and southeast England, which is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far, while temperatures could hit 23C today. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has urged caution and warned against using barbecues, saying the wildfire risk was “heightened” due to low rainfall. It comes as firefighters continue to battle major blazes in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued “extreme” wildfire warnings for Thursday in south-west, eastern, central and northern Scotland.
The hottest day of the year so far was on April 4, with a high of 23.7C recorded in Otterbourne, Hampshire. LFB assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall said: “The risk of wildfires in London currently is heightened and this risk increases with every day that passes without rainfall.”
The UK has seen a much drier start to spring than usual – with the typical ‘April showers’ not likely to start until a low pressure system moves in next week.
Historically low rainfall last month saw England have its sixth driest March on record, while Wales experienced its fourth driest since records began in 1836, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures are also far above the seasonal average.
Dan Stroud, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “The average for this time of year is around 13C, so it’s going to be about 10C above average on Friday.
“We’ve got high pressure at the moment which effectively acts like a force field.
“It actually keeps fronts and clouds largely at bay and keeps conditions settled and dry underneath the area of high pressure.”
According to LFB, the service saw a 48% increase in call-outs last weekend compared with the same weekend last year – while emergency workers in some parts of the country say they are responding to fires started deliberately.
This year has seen at least 286 wildfires hit the UK so far. That’s more than 100 above the number recorded in the same period in 2022, a year that saw record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented wildfire activity.
It comes after the National Fire Chiefs Council warned on Saturday it needs “long-term and sustained investment” to cope with climate change and “increased demand” on its services.
Mr Goodall said: “A minority of the fires we’ve attended recently are believed to have been started deliberately.
“What might seem like harmless fun has the ability to turn into something much more serious, particularly given current weather conditions.
“We know that people will undoubtedly want to be out enjoying the warm sunshine, particularly as we head into the weekend.
“But we’re asking Londoners to behave responsibly to help reduce the risk of fires starting in the first place.”
He continued: “Over the Easter holidays, parents should ensure that their children understand the fire risks to help protect our open spaces.
“We also urge Londoners to take steps to ensure they are not inadvertently starting a fire.
“They can do this by not using barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable ones, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully.
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