The Met Office has issued a wildfire warning in Britain as temperatures are set to soar above 22°C.
It comes weeks after the UK saw the hottest day of the year with temperatures of just 20°C in southern parts of England.
Now, an amber fire warning has been issued for most of England and extends into Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Met meteorologist Kathryn Chalk explained: ‘With strong winds and ongoing dry/warm weather this brings a continued likelihood for wildfire conditions through the period.
‘There is currently an amber fire danger rating across England extending into Northern Ireland and the rest of southern Scotland on Wednesday.’
But it’s not all bad news – rain showers will move into the southwest of England to help alleviate the danger.
But those enjoying the warm weather have been warned to be extra cautious with windy areas – especially if they’re dealing with barbecues and cigarettes.
‘We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine but we urge people to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent a grass fire from starting,’ London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said.
‘Recent events in Los Angeles and South Korea have demonstrated how rapidly fires can spread outdoors, even when temperatures are not at their highest.
‘The Met Office has issued an amber wildfire warning, covering London, and this will be in place for the rest of the week.
‘As the weather warms up and we head towards Friday and the weekend, we would urge Londoners not to have barbecues in open spaces or on balconies, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire.’
On Friday, London will enjoy temperatures of 20°C, paired with partly sunny skies – so be sure to pack the suncream if you’re venturing outdoors.
Britain’s hottest day of the year so far came in at 20C in late March – but the highest temperature recorded during the first day of spring previously was in 1972, when a temperature of 21.5°C was recorded.
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