Unseasonably warm weather is set to bring temperatures of up to 24°C across the UK, with the Met Office forecasting the peak on Friday in London and south-east England. If reached, it would mark the hottest day of the year so far, surpassing the 23.7°C recorded in Hampshire on 4 April. In comparison, Ibiza is only expected to reach 19°C on Friday. The warmth comes amid historically low rainfall, with England experiencing its sixth driest March and Wales its fourth driest since records began in 1836.
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Fire services have warned of an elevated wildfire risk due to the ongoing dry spell. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has urged the public to refrain from using barbecues, particularly disposable ones, and to be cautious with rubbish and cigarettes. “The risk of wildfires in London currently is heightened, and this risk increases with every day that passes without rainfall,” said LFB assistant commissioner Thomas Goodall. Meanwhile, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued “extreme” wildfire alerts across much of Scotland, and Northern Ireland crews responded to 41 wildfire incidents overnight.
Dan Stroud of the Met Office explained the current weather pattern, attributing it to high atmospheric pressure, which is preventing cloud formation and maintaining dry conditions. “The average temperature for this time of year is around 13°C, so we’re looking at around 10 degrees above average,” he said. Last weekend alone, LFB reported a 48% increase in call-outs compared to the same period last year. So far in 2025, there have already been at least 286 wildfires recorded, exceeding figures from the same time in 2022—a year noted for its record-breaking heat.
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The National Fire Chiefs Council has renewed calls for long-term investment to cope with the increasing demand linked to climate change. Mr Goodall emphasised the seriousness of even seemingly minor acts. “A minority of the fires we’ve attended recently are believed to have been started deliberately. What might seem like harmless fun has the ability to turn into something much more serious.” He added that parents should speak with children about the dangers and asked all Londoners to act responsibly during the Easter break to protect the city’s open spaces.
