The UK is set for warm weather ahead of Easter Sunday after experiencing the hottest day of the year so far. The mercury hit 23.4C (74.1F) in St James’s Park in central London on Good Friday afternoon, the Met Office said, making it hotter than California. Saturday is expected to be slightly cooler, but temperatures are expected to hit 22C in parts of southern and central England. Many parts of the country will see clear, sunny spells despite a cloudy start in some areas. The Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: “It will be a fairly cloudy start to the morning before developing into a rather fine and sunny day on the most part. “Areas in central and southern England, such as the West Midlands, are most likely to reach the low 20s. It will then become gradually cooler going into Sunday, with showers in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while most other areas should remain pleasant.” More widely, some regions will reach the low 20s while parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland will reach the mid to high teens. Some parts, mostly central and western areas, could see some cloud early in the day with mist and fog patches inland at first. Forecasters say Easter Sunday will be cooler, although probably drier than Saturday, with showers confined mainly to the north and west ahead of a wetter Monday.