On Tuesday, people descended on beaches and parks across the country as they looked to make the most of the hottest March day since1968.

St James’ Park in London saw highs of 24.2 degrees while, in Brighton, the mercury reached a pleasant 19 degrees.

The city's promenade and pebbles were packed as a blanket of blue sky covered the Sussex coast.

Brighton UK 30th March 2021 - Brighton beach is packed as visitors flock to the seaside on the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching the mid 20s centigrade in parts of the South East : Credit Simon Dack / Alamy Live News.........

Brighton UK 30th March 2021 - Brighton beach is packed as visitors flock to the seaside on the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching the mid 20s centigrade in parts of the South East : Credit Simon Dack / Alamy Live News.........

But, with many people now looking forward to four days off over the Easter weekend, will the British weather deliver another bout of warm weather?

In short, no. The Met Office predicts that the mercury will never venture anywhere near Tuesday's heady heights of 19C over the next few days.

Today, the weather experts expect mostly sunny conditions with highs of 11C, dropping to a chilly 6C overnight.

Tomorrow is set to be either cloudy or overcast for most of the day, with a spell of sunshine between 6pm and 7pm. Thermometers will touch 10C between 2pm and 5pm - hardly prime beach-going conditions.

And, the Met Office predicts, the temperature will feel about 3C colder due to wind gusts of up to 25mph blowing through the city.

Despite a bitterly cold start, with temperature dropping to 3C at about 7am, Sunday's forecast is a bit more promising,

Brighton is set to bask in sunshine between 10am and 7pm, however temperatures will still only peak at 10C.

And, on Monday, rain is expected between 4am and 7am, with clouds covering the city for the remainder of the day. Temperatures are forecast to range from 3C to 7C.

Brighton UK 30th March 2021 - The traffic congestion on Brighton seafront as visitors flock to the seaside on the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching the mid 20s centigrade in parts of the South East : Credit Simon Dack / Alamy

Brighton UK 30th March 2021 - The traffic congestion on Brighton seafront as visitors flock to the seaside on the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching the mid 20s centigrade in parts of the South East : Credit Simon Dack / Alamy

Hour-by-hour forecast for the Easter weekend, according to the Met Office:

Today

  • 8am-12pm: Sunny intervals with temperatures climbing from 5C to 10C. Less than five per cent chance of precipitation.
  • 1pm-5pm: Sunny conditions with temperatures falling from 11C to 7C. Chance of precipitation remains minimal.
  • 6pm-8pm: Cloudy with temperatures at 7C-8C. Low chance of rain.
  • 9pm-12am: Overcast with temperatures of 6C-7C. There is a 10 per cent chance of precipitation.

Tomorrow

  • 12am-6am: Cloudy with temperatures of 5C-6C. Very low chance of rain.
  • 7am-2pm: Overcast with temperatures of 6C-10C and a 10 per cent chance of rain.
  • 3pm-5pm: Cloudy with temperatures of 9C-10C.
  • 6pm-7pm: Sunny conditions with temperatures of 8C-9C.
  • 8pm-7am: Cloudy with a low chance of rain. Temperatures dropping from 7C to 3C.

Sunday

  • 8am-7pm: Sunny conditions with temperatures rising from 3C to 10C. Very low chance of rain.
  • 7pm-12am: A clear night with a low chance of rain. Temperatures of 7C-8C.

Monday

  • 1am-3am: A cloudy night with temperatures of 7C. Very low chance of rain.
  • 4am-7am: Light rain, with a 60 per cent chance of precipitation. Temperatures falling from 7C to 4C.
  • 8am-10am: Sunny intervals with temperatures of 3C-5C and a 10 per cent chance of rain.
  • 1pm-9pm: Cloudy skies with temperatures of 5C-6C.
  • 10pm-12am: Light showers with temperatures of 3C. There is a 30 per cent chance of rain.
Brighton UK 30th March 2021 - Time for a bbq on Brighton beach as visitors flock to the seaside on the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching the mid 20s centigrade in parts of the South East : Credit Simon Dack / Alamy Live

Brighton UK 30th March 2021 - Time for a bbq on Brighton beach as visitors flock to the seaside on the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures reaching the mid 20s centigrade in parts of the South East : Credit Simon Dack / Alamy Live

In a UK forecast, the Met Office's deputy chief meteorologist, Mark Sidaway, said: "After a settled, warm spell with plenty of sunshine particularly across England and Wales our weather will take a notable change in direction later in the weekend.

"Very cold Arctic air will move in from the north west through Sunday, bringing snow showers and freezing overnight temperatures.

"The snow showers will predominantly affect the north and west of the UK. The south and east will likely remain drier but still cold with a lower chance of wintry showers."