London weather: Hotter than Costa del Sol, it’s park life and barbecues for 26C capital at weekend

Haze over London today IS NOT from Saharan dust, say experts

6 May 2016

Londoners were flocking to the city’s parks today and dusting off their barbecues ahead of the hottest weekend of the year.

The Met Office said temperatures were likely to hit a high of 23C in the capital today, rising by a degree tomorrow and set to climb to 26C on Sunday - hotter than the Costa Del Sol.

And despite fears of a sand dust cloud heading over from the continent, London was set to miss the worst of the pollution.

Forecasters said the hazy weather across the city this morning was due to “high-level cloud” rather than increased levels of toxic air.

Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples said: “There is a bit of cloud around today and tomorrow but there will be less cloudy weather on Sunday so it will feel very warm. We are expecting it to be dry throughout the weekend with lots of sunshine.”

Hot weather in London - May 2016

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She added: “It will be hazy at times but that is due to medium and high level cloud rather than a decrease in air quality. Currently there are moderate levels of air pollution and that will remain the case over the weekend.

“It will feel very warm in London so Londoners wanting to catch a bit of a breeze should head to the Kent of Sussex coast.”

Not only are the weekend temperatures higher than the average 16C for early May, it is a welcome relief from the particularly cold weather experienced in London last week.

The capital saw wintry showers with graupel (also known as soft hail) falling in some parts of the city and night-time temperatures dropped below freezing.

However, it was not all good news on the air quality front.

The tree pollen count is also set to rise throughout most of southern England, with those allergic to birch and oak pollen advised to keep doors and windows shut.

One in four of Britain’s 18 million hay fever sufferers are allergic to tree pollen, causing sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes during the season that lasts until mid-May when grass pollen begins to be released.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has predicted there may be pockets of high levels of pollution but London would escape the worst of the smog.

A statement on the Defra website said: “Southeasterly airflow from the continent is likely to encourage moderate air pollution to persist across many areas of England and Wales, and perhaps become more widespread, affecting Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland with locally high levels in places.

When levels are ‘high’ Defra states: “Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms. Older people should also reduce physical exertion.

“Anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors.”

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London weather: Hotter than Costa del Sol, it’s park life and barbecues for 26C capital at weekend

Hot weather in London - May 2016

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