People in Kent are set to bask in temperatures of up to 21C this week, following a washout weekend full of hail and gale force winds.

After the chaos caused on our roads and railways in the wake of Storm Gareth and Storm Hannah, things are finally starting to look up.

In fact, spring may finally arrive this weekend with forecasters predicting plenty of sunny spells.

Warm air is set to blow in from the Azores in the mid-Atlantic and push temperatures about 10 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, some forecasts claim.

Lower Leas Coastal Park
Lower Leas Coastal Park

And according to The Mirror the mercury will rise to a balmy 21C in Kent and the rest of the south east.

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: "21C is possible in the following week.

"There are similarities with February's switch from snow to heat.

"We're more used to the 'Beast from the East' – but a 'Beast from the West' saw St Patrick's weekend see whiteouts and washouts."

While Met Office forecaster Martin Bowles added: “High pressure builds with the South and East mainly dry with warm sunny spells seeing 15C by Wednesday, and slightly higher later in the week and later in March, with 18C.

"The North and West will be cloudier with some rain."

As the weather warms up thanks to a dying down of winds which battered the country over the weekend, eastern parts are likely to see the best of the sunshine.

Those in the west could still see some heavy showers.

John Hammond, chief meteorologist for Weathertrending, told the Sun: "It will feel much warmer than recently because, at long last, the strong winds have finally relented."

He added: "After a wild wintry week, the calm after the storms will see spring re-emerge.

"Little rain is expected, with most parts feeling pleasant in the strengthening sun and higher temperatures ahead."

Met Office forecast

The beach in Dymchurch
The beach in Dymchurch

 

Here is what the Met Office has to say in its outlook for Saturday 23 March to Monday 1 April: "Confidence is low for this weekend, but it looks sunny for many, once patchy rain in the south clears.

"There will be some blustery showers in the northwest though, with the risk of gales in the far north.

"Through the latter stages of March, we will see a good deal of dry weather across central and south eastern parts of the UK, with bright or sunny spells.

"It will be more changeable across the northwest, with rain and strong winds from time to time.

"Temperatures are most likely to be around the average for the time of year, although some warmer periods are likely in the south east when the sun shines.

"However, occasionally in the northwest it may be rather cold."

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