The Met Office has confirmed that parts of North Cornwall and North Devon had temperatures of over 20 degrees Centigrade today (Tuesday) – but after another warm and sunny day tomorrow and part of Thursday it will be time to wrap up again in the days leading up to the Easter weekend.

The Exeter-based Met Office says that the warmest places in the region today were on the Atlantic coast, with Bude in North Cornwall enjoying temperatures of 23.4 degrees C and Chivenor in North Devon being not far behind with 21.5 degrees C. For the time of year these are exceptional temperatures which would normally be felt in the summer months of June and July.

Wednesday will be another sunny day with only occasional patches of cloud and will feel warmest in inland areas, where temperatures may reach around 22 degrees C. Thursday is also likely to feel warm but with larger areas of patchy cloud – and then by the time Good Friday arrives, and despite wide areas of sunshine, a north-easterly wind will bring the temperatures down to just 10-12 degrees C. By then there will also be the risk of patchy frosts overnight.

Easter Saturday will be generally dry and sunny but by then the weather will have become cooler than average for April, with chilly nights, and from Easter Sunday more unsettled weather with patchy rain will come down from the north, meaning that on Easter Monday there may even be the chance of snow on the very highest parts of Dartmoor. Most areas of Devon and Cornwall will have rain showers and sunny spells, however, setting the weather pattern for most of next week.