Temperatures in parts of the UK are set to rise close to 20C later this week and bring the warmest weather of the year so far.

After a colder period with some wintry weather for some parts of the country, spring-like weather makes a return.

It will also coincide with the spring equilux where day and night are the same length, marking the end of more darkness than light.

The weather will also be mostly dry with some sunshine for most areas.

The colder Arctic air across the UK over the last few days has meant temperatures have struggled to reach double figures for many. Combined with some wintry showers and snow over higher ground, it felt like winter had made a return.

However, through this week a warmer southerly wind will draw up air from the Mediterranean and bring temperatures around 6 or 7 degrees above average on Wednesday.

Widely across England and Wales temperatures will get into the mid to high teens.

For Wales we're very likely to see the warmest day of the year so far with the temperature exceeding the 17.

8C recorded at Porthmadog on 5 March.

And there's a possibility somewhere in the Midlands, north-west England or north-west Wales could see a temperature close to 20C.

Potentially exceeding the UK's current highest temperature of the year so far of 19.

2C - set in London earlier in March.

The warmer weather comes in the same week as the start of astronomical spring - or the spring equinox - on Saturday 20 March.

We've seen a rapid increase in daylight hours in recent weeks and from Wednesday our days will begin to get longer than our nights.

Temperatures will start to come down by a few degrees on Thursday and the rest of the week but still remain slightly above average for the time of year.

While there will be lots of cloud on Tuesday with rain at times in Northern Ireland and western Scotland, it will become sunnier across England and Wales into the afternoon.

With high pressure extending across the UK, it is likely to stay dry for most of us for the rest of the week.

Some northern areas of the UK could see some cloud lingering with other areas also seeing some early morning mist and fog.

But for most - and especially across England and Wales - there is lots of sunshine in the forecast.

The drier weather is likely to last into the weekend and while the mornings could start a little cloudy and murky, there should still be a lot of sunshine developing.

You can stay across your local forecast here

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