Residents in Rayleigh, Essex, can expect a significant warm-up this weekend as the Met Office forecasts daytime temperatures to reach 14°C on February 21 and February 22, 2026.
This shift follows a much colder start to the week where daytime highs only reached 5°C. Overnight temperatures are also set for a major change, rising from a freezing -2°C on Thursday night to a much milder 11°C by Saturday night.
The unseasonably warm weather is caused by Atlantic low-pressure systems moving across the country, bringing milder air to the south. These temperatures are roughly 6°C to 7°C higher than the typical February average for the region according to climate data from Weather Spark.
The milder conditions provide a good opportunity for local people to tackle outdoor tasks like pruning evergreen hedges or starting dahlia tubers in pots indoors. While the weather will be warmer, there could still be some patchy clouds and light showers throughout the weekend.
Experts from the Met Office suggest the change is part of a series of weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. Because these systems can be unsettled, the Environment Agency has also issued flood warnings across parts of England as of February 16, 2026.
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