Britain set to bask in sunshine during the first weekend of the Easter holidays, forecasters have predicted.

Met Office meteorologists have also made an optimistic assessment of the week ahead, predicting temperatures will climb into the mid to high teens across much of the country.

Although much of England and Wales has experienced heavy rain showers at the start of the two-week school break, the outlook is expected to improve on Thursday.

Western areas will see highs of 11C or 12C, despite a chilly wind from the North Sea keeping temperatures on the east coast at 8C or 9C.

The dry and mild spring conditions are expected to hold over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, before the North Sea wind finally eases up and gives way to even warmer weather next week.

Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Show all 20 1 /20 Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Yellow flowers bask in the sunshine at Castle Park, Bristol PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A crop of flowering Spring Dawn daffodils are pictured growing in a field on Taylors Bulbs farm near Holbeach in eastern England AFP/Getty Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Japanese tourists take photos with daffodils in St James's Park in London on Friday, February 22 PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Thousands of crocuses have started to bloom weeks early after unusually high temperatures at National Trust's Wallington Hall in Northumberland PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A woman reads among daffodils in St James Park, London PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Snowdrops in bloom at Painswick Rococo Garden in the Cotswolds PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Gardener Chris Orton at National Trust's Wallington Hall, Northumberland, checks thousands of crocuses which have started to bloom weeks early after unseasonably high temperatures PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Spring flowers bloom in a graveyard at a church in Knutsford, Cheshire Reuters Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A bee collects pollen at National Trust's Wallington Hall in Northumberland PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Gardener Chris Orton at the National Trust's Wallington Hall in Northumberland watering some of the plants inside the greenhouse, which have started to bloom weeks early after unseasonable temperatures PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Snowdrops in bloom at Painswick Rococo Garden in the Cotswolds PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Gardeners take part in the National Trust's annual flower count at Kilterton in Exeter. 2352 plants were blooming in the garden, an increase of 65 on last year PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Snowdrops bloom alongside purple crocuses in Royal Victoria Park, Bath PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A squirrel and a magpie forage among purple crocuses in Royal Victoria Park, Bath PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Daffodils bloom among purple crocuses in Royal Victoria Park, Bath PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A yellow flower blooms alongside purple crocuses in Royal Victoria Park, Bath PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A robin forages among purple crocuses in Royal Victoria Park, Bath PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Gardener Chris Orton at National Trust's Wallington Hall, Northumberland, checks thousands of crocuses which have started to bloom weeks early after unseasonably high temperatures PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early Snowdrops in bloom in Dorset PA Britain in bloom: warm weather brings spring flowers early A women takes a picture of the crocuses at the Walsall Arboretum as the warm weather continues PA

“There will be plenty more sunshine throughout the UK on Saturday – a lovely day for most people,” said Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern. “Most places will be dry and bright with the best of the sunshine in the west.”

While the forecaster said it was too early to tell whether Easter weekend – 19 April to 22 April – would stay both warm and dry, the next 10 days are expected to see temperatures rise.

“Anyone hoping for some fine weather – there will be plenty of it around,” said Mr McGivern. “Some warm sunshine to enjoy during the next five days especially.”

He added: “Temperatures will slowly start to rise and we’ll begin to lose those overnight frosts. By day temperatures will reach the mid to high teens through south-east England, parts of Wales and north-west Britain where there will be plenty of sunshine.”

Despite the largely fine outlook, the south-east and East Anglia might still see some outbreaks of rain this weekend. In a few places, it could even mean snow.