Weather: Oldham expected to be hotter than parts of Spain

While those with hay fever will have noticed the pollen count has been consistently high over the last week, the temperatures have varied significantly.

According to the Met Office, that is about to change after today - when between 4pm and 8pm there will be a high of just 16 degrees.

Temperatures will pick up going into the weekend, with highs of 18 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, before a cloudy Friday peaks at 20 degrees.

On Saturday, Oldham is anticipated to reach a high of 21 degrees - making the borough hotter than the coastal city of Gijon, in northern Spain.

Oldham will experience a sunny spell on Saturday morning (Image: Met Office)

It will mean that Oldham will be as hot as Barcelona, on the eastern coast of Spain, as well as Nice and Montpellier in the south of France.

Oldhamers should familiarise themselves with cloudy skies over the next four days, with the only break coming between 10pm and midnight tonight, until Saturday when cloud cover is expected to break for six hours for a sunny spell.

Oldham will be hotter than Spain's Gijon, and as hot as Barcelona (Image: Met Office)

Despite the prolonged overcast, forecasters anticipate rain to hold off until Monday next week - when temperatures will drop from 20 degrees on the Sunday to 18 degrees.

In its weather forecast for the North West tomorrow, the Met Office said: "Any low cloud lifting to leave a largely dry day with hazy spells of sunshine.

"Feeling warm with light winds. Maximum temperature 19 degrees."

Oldham will be as hot as Nice and Montpellier, both cities in the south of France, on Saturday (Image: Met Office)

While its outlook for Thursday to Saturday read: "High pressure dominates for the rest of the week, bringing settled conditions and lots of dry weather.

"Plenty of warm sunshine and light winds. Mild overnight with fog patches possible."

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