Spring is in the air with temperatures expected to rise into the mid teens on Monday.

The blast of balmy air from the Americas currently bathing the British Isles will encourage temperatures to climb.

The mercury could hit 17C (62F) in parts of the south east, while Aberdeen could see highs in the mid-teens (60F).

However the brief respite from February's usually wintry mix will fade away as the week goes on, with strong winds and some gales forecast from Thursday.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: "We have a bit of an east/west split developing across the UK. Across eastern areas it will be a dry day with sunny spells at times, especially in the morning.

"The south east might start with some low cloud, mist and fog but that will lift and they will have a fine day.

"In the west and north west the cloud will be thicker and there will be increasing fog in the afternoon and later in the day.

"There will be drizzle at times in the west and rain will become more persistent over the west of Scotland, with it turning increasingly windy in the north."