Black Country temperatures to reach 20C as spring sun finally shines

The West Midlands will be bathed in sunshine this week as warm temperatures sweep in.

Georgia Hill, Leo Hill, Olivia Bell and Freya Bell, all from Great Barr, enjoy the good weather at Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich

Forecasters have predicted the hottest day of the year so far is on the cards – which could see the mercury hit 20C on Thursday.

The region is experiencing its first taste of spring – just weeks after seeing snow and blizzards as part of the 'Beast from the East'.

The upcoming weather forecast for the Black Country

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the weather will be 'turning warmer for a little time' as hotter air is dragged up from the south, causing temperatures to rise as high as 20C.

Mr Burkill said: "Tomorrow (weds) it will be mostly dry and rather sunny for most places.

"For many central and eastern parts of the UK it is going to be a dry and very sunny day and, with that, temperatures creeping up as well.

"Thursday is probably going to be the warmest day... it is looking like a dry and sunny day with temperatures quite widely getting above 20C (68F)."

Beach Boys James Cook, aged seven, and brother Harvey Fellows, aged 10, at Baggeridge Country Park

With average maximum temperatures for April across the UK around 11.5C, Mr Burkill said it will be a 'good 10C above average'.

Thursday's warm blast will see parts of the country be comparable with some European destinations, including Malaga in Spain at 21C and Athens in Greece at 23C.

Mr Burkill said it is 'not especially' unusual to see such temperatures, adding: "Quite often we would have already gone above 20C by this time in the year.

"It is quite normal for spring to be like this and to bring some colder spells and some temperatures like this."

He revealed that the warm and sunny weather looks set to continue into the weekend, but that it may be a little cooler, and said there could be some rain pushing in from the west by Sunday.