BRITS are set to soak up sunshine this week as temperatures rise to 13C just days after the icy cold snap.

The Met Office has predicted sunny spells and mild temperatures across the UK after days of travel chaos amid snow, ice and fog.

According to Met Office graphs, by the afternoon on Friday, February 17, Brits in London will see temperatures rise to 13C while the majority of the southeast hovers around 12C and 11C.

High pressure building across the country has helped bring milder conditions to the UK, according to the Met Office.

Those in the southeast can look forward to the driest conditions with sunshine and light winds.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “For much of the UK, this weekend and early next week will be dry and settled.

“This is thanks to a ridge of high pressure that is building across the country.

“Around this ridge of high pressure, winds are coming up from a southerly direction, helping to bring milder air to the UK.”

Moving north, figures stay mild with Scotland and Northern Ireland forecast to see between 8C and 9C.

In the Scottish Highlands lows are due to reach 6C.

A statement on the Met Office website predicted: “Low pressure located to the northwest could bring frontal systems, with associated spells of rain and stronger winds in the north and northwest.

“The south and east are likely to see drier, more settled conditions, but more unsettled periods remain possible, bringing some wetter and windier weather.

“Temperatures overall rather mild, but overnight frost and fog could develop.”

But in the days leading up to the weekend, Brits in Wales, Northern Ireland and the southwest may swap their warmest winter coats for a lighter option.

Meteorologists predict highs of 10C in Belfast and Plymouth, while Caernarfon can enjoy 11C from Tuesday morning.

Wednesday and Thursday will see most of the southern areas around the UK such as Exeter, Southampton and Brighton stay at 9C.

However, rain is set to batter Brits in the north on Wednesday, as a large band moves across the western side of the UK.

Those in Glasgow, the Scottish Highlands, Dumfries, Manchester, Plymouth and Exeter will be affected until the evening.

Thursday is forecast to bring showers to the rest of the UK as rain moves south, hitting the coast including Southampton, Brighton and Dover by the afternoon.

This comes after Brits were hit by travel disruption over the last couple of days due to more snow, ice and fog warnings as temperatures plummeted to -4C.

More than a dozen flights at London City Airport were called off on Wednesday including Three British Airways flights heading to Dusseldorf, Rotterdam and Florence.

And the incoming warmer period is not predicted to last long, with meteorologists warning of a “major Sudden Stratospheric Warming”(SSW) likely to hit towards the end of February.

Parts of the UK could see wintry conditions with some snow and temperatures possibly plunging as low as -11C with the cold snap lasting for around 10 days into March.

Prof Adam Scaife, Head of Long-Range Forecasting at the Met Office, said: “There is now over 80 per cent chance of a major SSW occurring.

“Although the impact will become clearer nearer the time, any effect on UK weather is most likely to occur in late February and March.”

An SSW caused 2018’s “Beast from the East” which also started in late February.