Brits hit parks and beaches to bask in 20C mini-heatwave as cops warn they will break up crowds
BRITS have flocked to parks and beaches to soak up the 20C heat – but cops have warned they will break up crowds.
Today is predicted to be hotter than Corfu and forecasters have said the May bank holiday could see the mercury hit a sweltering 32C.
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Manchester and Caernarfon, Wales, are thought to get the best of the day’s weather.
Temperatures for most of the country are due to hover around the mid-teens although breezier conditions in the East and North East will see temperatures in single figures.
The Met Office said in a Twitter message: "Temperatures will reach around 20C in the west today, but will struggle along some eastern coastlines."
And it seems like Brits will be able to enjoy a pint in the sun as next weekend will be a lot warmer, with a possible bank-holiday heatwave causing temperatures to surge as high as 32C, forecasters have predicted.
The warm weather comes as the UK is set for the warmest summer "from the past ten years," according to experts.
With no rain forecast this week or next, some weather experts predict there may be a Spanish Plume of hot weather with temperatures in the 30Cs hitting Britain soon.
Hotter-than-average temperatures are forecast in the coming weeks and may continue well into the month of May.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “There will definitely be some spikes of heat as we go into summer when I expect to see temperatures in the high 20Cs or even the low 30Cs.”
Pubs and restaurants were already filling up this morning and sun worshippers were enjoying a day at the beach.
Bars were packed out in Manchester’s Northern Quarter as people enjoyed a cooling drink in the sun.
Similarly, London’s trendy Borough Market was heaving the people making the most of the weekend’s fine weather.
Brits were also out in force last night as they made an early start to the weekend.
Soho in central London was packed with punters last night as they made the most of their freedom for the second weekend running after Covid lockdown restrictions were eased.
Meanwhile further north in Leeds, partiers hit the streets to kick their weekend off.
Similar scenes unfolded seven days ago on the first weekend since restrictions were lifted.
Cops though have vowed to crack down on anti-social behaviour at hotspots over the weekend.
A number of dispersal orders have already been put in place in South Wales, including Cardiff Bay, Swansea, Ogmore-by-Sea and Barry Island.
The orders give South Wales Police the powers to break up crowds.
Similar action is also being taken in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, over fears about “possible anti-social behaviour”.
Under the current revised Covid regulations six people from six different households are able to meet outdoors.
North Wales Police said it was putting on extra patrols because it was expecting the area to “get very busy this weekend”.
The action comes after people gathered in large numbers in Cardiff Bay and other places, drawing criticism they were not following the rules and could cause a spike in coronavirus cases.
South Wales Police said it was the first time a dispersal order had been put in place at Ogmore-by-Sea and was due to anti-social behaviour recently.
"We are not there to monitor visitor numbers and prevent those visiting in a law-abiding manner from enjoying. We are there to ensure public safety," said the force.
"We all have a responsibility to make sensible choices when we are out and about, maintaining social distancing and not putting ourselves and others at unnecessary risk."
The dispersal order covering SA1 in Swansea was put in place after South Wales Police became aware of messages on social media about a gathering on a beach.
Dyfed-Powys Police has launched its annual Operation Lion initiative to make sure Tenby "continues to be a safe and popular destination for all this spring and summer".
Chief Insp Louise Harries said it had been implemented following recent incidents and after "listening to residents' concerns".
The force also said officers will be "conducting proactive patrols of areas identified as possible sites for illegal raves over the weekend" and asked the public to alert them.
Earlier this month a number of dispersal orders were issued in various towns and cities in England following anti-social behaviour.
In Manchester there was a blanket 48-hour dispersal order for the whole city centre after hundreds gathered for an illegal rave, breaking strict Covid restrictions.
Nottingham brought in a dispersal order after a large group of boozy students brawled and were caught weeing in park bushes at the Arboretum on the first day of lockdown easing.
Similar rules were in place in areas of Leeds, in Shrewsbury town centre and in large parts of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, to stop crowds meeting.
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