Well, after the heavy snow that fell in that part of the world over the weekend; this is a bit of a suprise. 17.2C has recently been recorded in Shap in the lake district. And we could still get even a little bit higher! The most likely cause is a westerly foehn wind, where precipatation is deposited on the windward side, and the dried air descends on the leeward side warming up considerably. 

Dodgy reading.  Shap apparently reached 15.8C yesterday when it was probably 8C at best there. 

I would say it reading at least 5C too high.

I'm not sure which is more surprising, that unusually high temperature reading or an avid cold lover such as Quantum actually showing an interest in something like that in the first place.

But indeed, I, too, think that 17 C reading may have been a bit overcooked (maybe it is too affected by sunlight? A bit like my own sensor).

I don't know, the foehn effect would produce local large temperture variations. It can be several degrees colder on the windward side (10C difference would not be out of the question). Also Exeter airport recorded 16C so it isn't as if the airmass itself was impossibly cold. It wouldn't suprise me, if a similar effect had also happened yesterday in shap. 

PWS says "No"

http://classic.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=ICUMBRIA41 

Aye, Shap over-recorded yesterday, so probably a problem with the sensor.

Keswick and Carlisle got to around 13c today and I suspect that was the max for the area - though it has turned quite mild across most of the country compared with the past few days.

I would think favoured spots could have touched 15C in brighter spells this afternoon.

No way it was nearly 18c at Shap, it only reached 11.7c here and I am 500feet lower!

Yesterday was a lot colder and snow cover persisted above 1,500feet so that Shap reading was even more nuts.

Andy