Parts of N.Ireland and N.Britain have seen snow this week. but the sunshine is strong enough now to make temperatures leap up, in the fine spells. However, this weekend is still looking unsettled but let's leave off the snow, it is May after all.
Will there be sunshine? – Yes
Is it going to be as cold? - Not really
Will there be rain? – Yes
Will it snow? - No
Windy? – Yes but not on Sunday
So, not as cold, with warm sunshine but heavy, blustery rain at times too.
The sun at this time of year is very strong. And with this week's cool air it has been easy enough to get caught out and end up with a sun burnt face. Even with the warmth in the sun, it is cold in the shade, the wind and turns very chilly after dark. The reason for the chill is cold Arctic air plunging over the UK this week from the north. By Bank holiday weekend we could do with a change, as we start a new month.
There are signs that it won’t be as cold by the end of Friday. So turning milder from the south and trying to push away that cold Arctic air. However, don't expect a return to the warmth we saw mid April, it’s just going to be warm sunny spells coming and going but still the need for sunscreen.
We do have a change in the air mass, as the winds sweep around to the SW and we get nudged by Tropical maritime air off the Atlantic. So far this week, we’ve only seen 7 to 15C. Southern Britain could reach up to high teens maybe 20C by Sunday, but further north still only 10 to 15C which is around average. Friday and Saturday night still look cold for N.Britain for any campers out there. And still the risk of a touch of frost for gardeners to watch out Friday night.
I did mention rain. Currently, Saturday looks fine for much of Britain but with rain approaching from the SW into N.Ireland later. Sunday sees showery burst of rain spilling over Britain and then pulses of heavier rain feeding up from the south for Bank holiday Monday. So that means the weekend starts okay but has more chance of rain Sunday and Monday. Again with both hefty downpours and warm sunny spells, one minute you are enjoying fine weather and then next watching the ominous black clouds approaching.
There is the proverb "Cast Ne'er a clout til May is out", so just bear that in mind if you are eyeing up your summer clothes. The May flower is Hawthorn often seen in hedgerows but it looks like the UK is going to have to wait a while yet to feel reliably warm.
Next update on Thursday, Super ensembles output below from Netweather Extra
Image credit: "Pink and brown (4627395373)" by Sander van der Wel from Netherlands - Pink and brownUploaded by russavia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pink_and_brown_(4627395373).jpg#/media/File:Pink_and_brown_(4627395373).jpg
