With 18 days to go before the end of the year, 2018 has already gone down in the record books as the sunniest on record, weather website Weerplaza said on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the number of sunny hours broke the 2,022 barrier, surpassing the previous record of 2,021 hours, 40 minutes, which was set in 2003.

It is only the second time more than 2,000 hours of sunshine have been recorded since records began in 1901. In an average year, the sun shines for 1,600 hours.

Weerplaza said one reason for the increase in sunshine is improved air quality. Thirty years ago, for example, the average amount of sunshine was no higher than 1,500 hours. ‘It was quite normal for there to be weeks of fog in the spring,’ a spokesman said.

Friday and Saturday will also be sunny but there may be some snow or sleet on Sunday. Light frosts are on the cards for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, Weerplaza said.