Britain set for balmy weekend: UK hotter than Greece and Spain as temperatures rise to 18C

And to put an even bigger smile on your face, forecasters reckon we’re in for a warm spring.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicky Maxey said: “It is going to be fine and dry on Saturday with the best of the weather in the South.

“It is looking warm and we could see 17C in some spots, although there will be some strong winds around.”

The only exception to the fine weather will be north-west Scotland, where torrential showers could bring up to 8in of rain in just a few hours.

But for the rest of Britain, unsettled weather will briefly return next week.

“From Monday it will be unsettled with gales and heavy rain and this is possibly something we will issue a warning around,” she said.

The Met Office’s 30-day forecast suggests above-average temperatures through this month with mainly dry weather to come.

Warm air from Bermuda and the Azores blowing in today will bring the warmest temperatures since January’s 17C in Devon.

The Met Office said good weather in the North will be bolstered by a “Foehn effect” – which brings hot air spilling off the mountains.

Chris Burton, at The Weather Network, said temperatures will be around double the norm.

He said: “With a tropical maritime air mass flooding across the country, temperatures are on the rise.”

It comes as scientists confirm an El Nino effect, which can lead to colder UK winters, has set in this year.

The phenomenon occurs every few years and sees ocean temperatures in the east Pacific rise above average.

The last time was in 2010 and coincided with above-average summer temperatures in Britain.

Adam Scaife, at the Met Office, said this year’s event is mild and unlikely to have a major knock-on effect.

He said: “The main impact in the UK from a strong El Nino is during the winter when there is an increased risk of colder weather.

“Our own long-range forecasts are for only a moderate warming through the summer.”