Some warmth finally and drier weather after such a wet, cool May. All in time for a Bank Holiday weekend. Pressure is rising and temperatures will tip into the low twenties.
Quite a contrast this morning across the UK. Glorious sunshine for some but there is low cloud from the North Sea and fog patches elsewhere. Wide areas have sunshine and a fine start for Thursday, although feeling cool. More sunshine will appear and with light winds, it will feel warmer today, into the low 20sC. The Bank Holiday weekend is also looking warmer, with drier weather finally. It’s not quite a straightforward story though. Out west there is a weather front. This will edge over Ireland slowly today and bring rain to Northern Ireland by this evening and overnight. That weakness remains for Saturday. As pressure builds, it protects the UK from any more incoming Atlantic weather systems. However, by Bank Holiday that protection begins to yield from the NW.
Today
The high pressure is to the east of the UK, over the North Sea. Low cloud has crept in overnight, but it will thin and break. The east coast of Britain could struggle where some of this low cloud lingers with a light east breeze, temperatures will peak at 13C. Inland, once the fog and cloud disappear, it will be a fine day. There will be sunshine, dry weather and hardly a breeze. Temperatures will widely be in the mid to high teens. Manchester, Birmingham and London will see 20 to 22C, so up to 72F. This is quite a change from the rest of cold, very wet May.
The frontal rain should reach Co. Fermanagh by teatime as the southerly wind picks up slightly over Northern Ireland. A different start for Friday from today for those enjoying the blue skies and sunshine. There will be more cloud and patchy rain through the Irish Sea and over SW Scotland. Showery outbreaks will reach over Wales with a few for northern England. Western Wales becomes damp and grey, adding a bit more rain to the already wettest May here. Northern Scotland particularly inland Grampian should see early sunshine although the haar will have returned by the coasts.
Southern England, the southeast and East Anglia will brighten up and become warm again. Temperatures could again reach into the low 20sC, depending on the sunshine. Mostly Friday will see temperatures in the low to mid-teens under the patchy rain and cloud but high teens for northern Scotland and much of England.
There will still be some patchy rain about for Friday evening if you have a plan to sit outside. This is mainly for western Britain and Northern Ireland, but many areas will feel a bit damp and an easterly breeze along the Thames will add to the cooler feel into the night.
By Saturday, there is the potential for showers. The rainfall total image shows the areas which look prone currently. From a weather app, don’t take the timings or promise of rain too literally. There could be showers but also dry spells. The rising pressure at the weekend means that there will be light winds, still with some warmth and leaning towards drier conditions. Saturday morning is when showery rain is more likely for western Britain. An easterly wind will keep the coasts of SE England feeling cooler.
Sunday looks fine and warm with temperatures up a notch. Again, into the 20sC possible with west London, Bristol, North Wales towards greater Manchester and Moray all hotting up.
For the Bank Holiday, there is a band of frontal rain approaching Northern Ireland and NW Scotland which could throw a few showers ahead of it. This will also bring more cloud and a moderate southerly wind. However, ahead of it, there will be more fine weather, sunshine and real warmth. Potentially even warmer than the 2021 top temperature so far. Back in March, the UK saw 24.5C and it’s not been that warm since.
