It will feel cool in the brisk wind this weekend with wintry showers for northern hills. However, there will be sunshine, just dodging the downpours if you are venturing out.
There have been small shifts recently; a noticeable lightness in the evenings now and a feeling that winter may be fading. In the spring sunshine, there have been more people out for local weekend walks, runs or bike rides. There is however a snow and ice warning for northern Scotland to end the working week so let’s not get carried away. Yes, you will still need your coat, it feels cold everywhere in the brisk westerly wind.
Last weekend, high pressure was over the UK bringing settled, mostly dry conditions. This weekend it’s more changeable with blustery winds, incoming showers from the west and still a nip in the air. However, there will be lengthy sunny spells particularly for eastern areas and Sunday sees some improvement with fewer showers over Britain.
During Friday night an approaching low pressure will bring rain from the west. As that hits the colder air over Scotland there will also be sleet and snow over northern hills. By Saturday morning that will leave white caps on the hills, a covering for the Scottish Highland mountains and a bit of slushy ice inland. The main rain clears away from eastern England with a wet and wild start early on for the far SE.
Saturday 24 hour forecast rainfall totals mm
Saturday
Saturday starts off feeling cold and damp with brisk westerly winds, away from calmer northern then northeastern Scotland. That changeableness in the weather means you will have to take your chances when heading out. You could watch the radar for a good break in the showers, or just pull your waterproof coat tighter and head off. The showers will move through quickly on the brisk winds but still could bring a soaking with a slightly icy tinge or hail mixed in for the Welsh mountains or Pennines.
It will be a windy day. Exposed western areas and coastal districts will feel the worst of gales and heavy showers with western Wales seeing a lot of hefty showers. Don’t be fooled by how it looks through the window if you are in a drier, sunnier part. Take your jumper, hat and coat. Temperatures around 8 or 9C.
SSTs Sea Surface Temperatures
The sea is cold at this time of year. This is not the time to start sea swimming if the cold is an issue. Early autumn would be more forgiving. The Wash, Morecambe Bay and Firth of Forth only showing 5 or 6C for those who are still venturing in. There are also some very large tidal ranges coming up this month. Interesting what might be unveiled by the low tides but keep an eye on the flood information for the high tides.
Orkney has flood warnings into Friday 12th due to a combination of high tides, storm surge and strong westerly winds resulting in high water levels.
By Saturday evening a band of rain and hill snow showers heads in from the far NW bringing a bit more snow to the NW Highlands and the Grampians,
Sunday
High pressure off NW Spain will start to dampen down the showery picture over the UK. That high should build our way next week. The winds veer to a north-westerly during Saturday night with gales for the North Isles and SW England.
There will still be showers from the west and northwest into western Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, NW England and SW England. A scattering for western Britain with wintriness over Scottish hills but frontal rain reaching Northern Ireland by Sunday afternoon. Sunny spells in between the showers and ahead of the front. It will be a breezy day with temperatures around average at 8 to 11C.
Still a while to go before the Easter holidays no strong signal about the weather for early April. The clocks spring forward on March 28th. Last March was very sunny and dry with Easter 2020 being very warm, up to 25C back in the days of lockdown 1.
