Temperatures may climb to 24°C in central regions, outpacing Mediterranean hotspots, as firefighters battle rising wildfire threats
Britain is poised for its hottest day of the year so far, as forecasters anticipate unseasonably high temperatures across much of the country. Friday could see central England experiencing highs of 24°C, a level more typical of midsummer, surpassing popular European destinations such as Ibiza, Mykonos, and even Los Angeles.
The Met Office predicts widespread sunshine and dry conditions, although a cool easterly breeze may keep eastern coastal regions noticeably chillier. While western and inland areas have seen July-like warmth, areas exposed to winds from the North Sea have remained comparatively cold. On Thursday, southern England saw 20.7°C, with Achnagart in the Highlands reaching 20.1°C. The seasonal average is around 12°C in England and 10°C in Scotland.
The highest temperature thus far in 2025 was recorded at 21.3°C in both Chertsey, Surrey, and Northolt, west London, on 20 March.
Meteorologist Dan Stroud noted that a band of cloud and scattered showers would move northward over parts of Wales and south-west England overnight, offering some much-needed rainfall to a few areas. Nevertheless, most of the country can expect another warm and dry spring day on Friday, with abundant sunshine, especially away from the eastern coastline. Temperatures may edge upwards into the low 20s, possibly reaching 24°C in some locations—likely making it the hottest day of the year so far.
The warm, dry spell comes after an unusually dry March, raising concerns among fire services. Several wildfires have already been reported this week in Scotland and southern England.
In Scotland, crews battled a significant grass fire at Gartur Moss, near Port of Menteith in Stirling. The blaze, which stretched almost half a mile, was first reported on Wednesday and continued burning into Thursday morning. Firefighters also responded to fires in West Dunbartonshire near Bonhill and in the Kilpatrick Hills near Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warned that the risk of wildfires would remain “very high to extreme” through Monday, urging the public to avoid lighting outdoor fires.
Further south, Moors Valley Country Park on the Dorset-Hampshire border remains closed after a series of wildfires erupted earlier this week. On Wednesday, fire crews returned to the area following the discovery of additional hotspots during an inspection near Ringwood. The fires have scorched multiple hectares of woodland, though no injuries have been reported.
Firefighters tackled two more large wildfires overnight on Wednesday in Dorset—one at Upton Heath, near Poole, which spread across over 15 hectares, and another at Canford Heath, which ignited early Thursday and burned through 2.4 hectares. Both incidents were under control by Thursday evening.
According to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, both fires were caused by human activity, although it remains unclear whether this was deliberate or accidental. Investigations are ongoing.
