Bone-dry winds and ramping temperatures threaten hay fever misery, with the nation on high-pollen alert into the bank holiday.
A dome of high pressure wedged over Britain will keep skies sunny and rain-free through the end of April.
Although lashings of golden rays and warmth are good news for the summer-eager, others will be reaching for tissues and nasal sprays.
After a dip in pollen counts today, levels will rise through the week, with almost the entire country at 'high' by Friday.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “With the sun strong at this time of year and high pressure lasting for the next couple of days, hay fever and sunburn are likely to be the main hazards as temperatures rise.
“Where there is rain, temperatures may oddly be a bit higher as humidity rises, and we lose the effect of high pressure.
“During the second half of the week, there are signs of a change in the pattern to something wetter.”
Temperatures across southern counties will rocket into the low-20Cs over the next 72 hours – above average for late April.
After a dip in pollen counts today, levels will rise through the week, with almost the entire country at ‘High’ by Friday
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Northern Ireland and Scotland, usually in the firing line for the cloud and rain, could see the best of the sunshine.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: “High pressure will continue to be the main story of the week, with sunshine returning into Wednesday.
“In the best of the sunshine across southern counties, temperatures will be well above average, reaching around 21C or 22C.
“The best of the sunshine on Tuesday will be across Northern Ireland and northwest Scotland, but temperatures along the North Sea coast will be a few degrees down.
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A dome of high pressure wedged over Britain will keep skies sunny and rain-free through the end of April
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“High pressure allows sunshine to develop widely on Wednesday and Thursday, and temperatures will lift into the low 20Cs, so there is plenty of warm weather to come.”
Britons should make the most of the sunshine, with the bank holiday signalling a return of the rain.
Britain’s weather will shift during the last month of spring from drier than average to wetter than average.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “Through the weekend and the following week, there are signs that we could see something more cyclonic and more unsettled developing.
“I think we are going to see a change, so I don’t think the fine sunny weather is going to last into the beginning of May.
“It is a different story for the first week of May, and things are likely to be a bit wetter than average, nowhere near as dry as we are expecting this week.”
Britons should brace for a chillier end to spring, he warned, as temperatures in parts dip below average.
He said: “We are likely to see a change to something wetter and cooler, and it does look like it is not going to be a sunny, as dry or as warm as we go through the first part of May.”
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