AFTER A weekend of sun and the hottest day of the year so far on Saturday, temperatures are set to start climbing down this week.

On Saturday the weather hit 18 degrees and another day of sunshine is expected today with highs of 17.

During the week the weather will start to cool off with nice weather not expected again for at least another 10 days.

Weather enthusiast Bournemouth and Poole weather said on Saturday evening: “Maximum temperatures today with a more than respectable 18.7C and the warmest day of the year.

“It’s going to be at least ten days until we get to that again, although another decent day tomorrow.”

Speaking about the weather today, they said: “It’s another clear start and another fine day ahead, maybe at times just some patchy cloud drifting in from the east.

"With a stronger breeze temps down an notch with a high of 17C. Make the most of it, big changes on the way.”

Looking to the beginning of next week the Met Office said Monday will bring highs of 14C and lows of 9C. The weather will be cloudy changing to light rain by nighttime.

Here’s the forecast for the rest of the week: Tuesday March 29 - Highs of 12C and lows of 5C. Light rain changing to overcast by late morning.

Wednesday March 30 - Highs of 11C and lows of 4C. Overcast all day.

Thursday March 31 - Highs of 9C and lows of 2C. Cloudy changing to light rain by late morning.

Friday April 1 - Highs of 9C and lows of 2C. Sunny changing to overcast by lunchtime.

Saturday April 2 - Highs of 9C and lows of 3C. Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime.

In a South West forecast from Tuesday to Thursday, the Met Office said the weather is set to get significantly colder with “cloud becoming more widespread through the week with an increased chance of showers or rain, perhaps even some snow in places.

"It will be windier by Thursday and feeling colder as temperatures drop.”