EAST Anglia basked in warmer temperatures than Los Angeles yesterday – just days after a few inches of snow brought the region grinding to a halt.The confusing climate change saw Suffolk enjoy highs of 59F (15C), while in LA temperatures fell as low as 47F (8C).

EAST Anglia basked in warmer temperatures than Los Angeles yesterday - just days after a few inches of snow brought the region grinding to a halt.

The confusing climate change saw Suffolk enjoy highs of 59F (15C), while in LA temperatures fell as low as 47F (8C).

Residents of Church Fenton, North Yorkshire, were even hotter yesterday at 62F (16C) - breaking the all-time record high for February 3.

Yet, even as temperatures soared, weather forecasters were last night warning that the country will be battered by heavy rain storms in coming days.

A total of 57 flood warnings have been issued across England and Wales, as up to 50 millimetres of rain was predicted to fall in north west England and north Wales today.

Capel Curig, in Snowdonia, was drenched by 137 millimetres of rain in just 18 hours, while Shap, in Cumbria, registered 75 in the same period yesterday.

Ken Blowers, East Anglian Daily Times weatherman, said last night: "There has been a great swing in the weather.

"Last week, we had a cold blast hitting us from the Arctic, which came straight down by the shortest possible route into East Anglia and brought with it low temperatures of 27F (-3C).

"This week is completely the opposite. We have south-westerly winds coming from the sub-tropical Atlantic and temperatures are extremely high for this time of year.

"The temperatures we had yesterday of 59F (15C) are more typical of early May - the average temperatures for this time of year should be 44F (7C).

"But, there is going to be a change soon. By the weekend, it is going to get colder and that is because the winds are going to swing round to west to north-westerly.

"That will bring the temperature down to where it should be. I think we will have this mild weather until Thursday before it starts to cool off again."

Of the ever-changing climate, Mr Blowers added: "It's fairly rare for the weather to swing about and change so much.

"There's no sign of an arctic spell yet, but over the last 60 years, the coldest day of the year on average has been February 12 so it's worth bearing in mind."