Above-average temperatures set to continue across most of UK with prospect of hosepipe bans in London and south-east
One of the warmest weekends of the year in the UK so far will be followed by temperatures well above average all week, with no sign of respite for southern areas affected by drought.
The prospect of hosepipe bans affecting millions of people in London and the south-east coincides with an early spring almost everywhere in the country, including Scotland where the annual Children's Skiing Championships in the Cairngorms have been cancelled because of lack of snow.
Temperatures at the weekend reached 19C in the Midlands, more than double the seasonal average of 9C, with both northern and southern England seeing 18C in many areas. The Met Office said things were likely to get a little colder as the week went on, but highs of 16C would still be widespread.
The pleasant spell is lingering because an area of high pressure over Britain and Ireland is resisting attempts by colder and wet Atlantic fronts to dislodge it. The bad weather is being funnelled north of Scotland but is expected to push into Wales and the West Country by the weekend, bringing much-needed rain to many areas.
Nights are a chillier story with frost likely by midweek, and clear skies in which the apparent cosying-up of Jupiter and Venus is currently a striking sight. Although actually many millions of miles apart, the two planets will appear close together and both are shining lustrously.
Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society said: "Although conjunctions such as this are not that rare, the interest in this one is a result of how spectacular it is. Both planets are very bright in the night sky. If you know where to look, you can even see Venus in the day. The two being so close together will be beautiful. Last night they looked like two beacons.
"It is also interesting for people because it just happens to be something which you can see for yourself. In the northern hemisphere we should look for them in the south-west this evening. The pair will appear to move to the west over the course of the night.
"They will drift apart after a couple of days but Jupiter will be visible for at least another two weeks."
The winter sports disappointment for about 200 of Scotland's best young skiers comes as all five of Scotland's resorts remain closed, with less and less likelihood of re-opening this season. This year's mild winter has seen last year's total of 121,420 winter sport visiters at Cairngorm more than halved with little prospect of any more arriving.
Special events to mark the 50th anniversary of ski-lifts in the mountain range have been cancelled, including a planned mass descent by skiers and snowboarders in kilts. A torchlit procession has also been abandoned.
The Met Office's maximum 30-day forecast suggests unsettled weather but with rainfall remaining below average until at least the first week in April.