What's Behind UK's Unseasonably Warm Weather?

The country basked in the highest temperatures of the year so far on Easter Sunday, with 20.7C (69.3°F) recorded in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

And while not everywhere has experienced the sunshine, many parts of the UK and Ireland have seen some unseasonably warm and mainly dry spells.

The generally settled conditions have been the result of high pressure over the British Isles - and with some help from further afield.

At the beginning of the week, high pressure centered to the west of the UK brought warm air from the Azores, although that was modified somewhat by going around the north of the UK.

Long clear spells have also allowed the strong sunshine to do its work, but we have still seen some chilly nights.

The Foehn effect, whereby air warms as it comes down over a mountain range, may have also played a part in the high temperatures seen in Aboyne on Easter Sunday.

But while many areas reaped the benefits of these processes, the high-pressure system spelled bad news for others.

The winds around this system circle around in a clockwise direction, so eastern parts of the UK have had easterly winds dragging in low cloud off the North Sea - causing it to be grey and cool across coastal regions.

Weak frontal systems have also occasionally passed over the north of Scotland, bringing overcast and at times damp conditions.

Through this week the high pressure will begin to drift eastwards, allowing for more direct southerly winds, bringing in warm air from the near continent.

On Friday, temperatures in southeast England could be close to 20C. However, at the same time it looks likelier to become wetter and breezier at times over western areas.