England set to experience the 'warmest day of the year' on Sunday

After heavy rains and strong winds unleashed by Storm Katie wreaked havoc in Britain during the Easter weekend, this weekend is set to be the warmest of the year in England as mercury could rise as high as 18C in London and up to 17C in central and southern England on Sunday (3 April).

The warmer weather will be evident from Saturday, with temperatures rising further on Sunday. Many parts of the country will be warmer than other European cities like Barcelona, Venice, Marbella and Madrid, the Spanish capital where temperature is expected to be around 12C, the Daily Mail Online reported.

According to Met Office forecaster Craig Snell: "Warmer air will become widespread on Sunday and a lot of us will notice a slightly warmer feel, slightly muggier. It will be the first widespread warm spell we have seen this year."

"Sunday will be one of the warmest spells of the season so far, with highs of around 17-18C. Although we have to beat the highest temperature of the year so far — which was 18.6C in Braemar, Scotland, last month [March], Sunday is set to be the warmest day of the year for England," Snell was quoted as saying to the English daily.

The high levels of mercury this year is unusual in Britain, where the average temperature in April remains around 11C. This April, however, will see a 6 to 7C rise in the temperature, which reportedly is because of a change in wind direction.

Snell was further quoted as saying that besides sunshine, there will be some spells of rain and the weather will be humid. "We will continue to see the warm air coming up from the continent but it looks like a much more showery day on Monday. It's a brief taste of warmer weather which will end by Tuesday," the weather expert noted.