The anticyclonic gloom shifted for many parts of the UK yesterday, and we are moving into a more mobile weather pattern with westerly and north-westerly winds, although high pressure is still set to be quite dominant, especially in the south.
The anticyclonic gloom shifted for many parts of the UK yesterday, and we are moving into a more mobile weather pattern with westerly and north-westerly winds, although high pressure is still set to be quite dominant, especially in the south.
Today's weather will see a band of cloud slowly clear away from Wales and central and southern parts of England. There will be some light rain and drizzle associated with this over and to the west of high ground, particularly over the West Country, but many central and eastern areas will see no rain from it. Much brighter weather will follow behind from the north, and much of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England will have a dry sunny day. There will be some scattered showers in the northern half of Scotland during the morning but these will tend to die out after midday.
It will be a mild day for the time of year over England and Wales with temperatures at low levels reaching 9 to 11C generally, and perhaps 12C in some spots. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be cooler but still quite warm for the time of year, with highs of 7 to 9C in most places.
Clear skies and easing winds will lead to a ground frost for many areas tonight, with temperatures generally falling to between 1 and 3C, and dropping close to or below freezing in prone frost hollows, particularly in the West Country. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, high cloud will increase from the north-west towards dawn tomorrow morning, resulting in temperatures creeping up a little.
Cloudy weather will spread south-eastwards across the country tomorrow, following a dry sunny start in central, southern and eastern parts of England. Most places will have another dry day, but there will be an area of persistent rain developing over western Scotland, mainly to the north of Glasgow, and some patchy light rain and drizzle will develop in western areas.
A westerly wind will pick up. Temperatures will generally reach highs of between 8 and 10C, but highs of 11 or 12C are possible, particularly in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland late in the day as milder air moves in. The cloud and wind will ensure a much milder night to follow, with temperatures widely staying at around 8 to 10C overnight.
The generally north-westerly type but with high pressure close by is set to continue through the weekend. Strong winds will affect northern Britain early on Saturday, with potential for gale force winds in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, especially near north and west-facing coasts.
Cloudy skies, with a band of light rain mainly to the west of high ground, will head southwards through England and Wales on Saturday, with brighter weather following behind from the north-west. Sunday will start off dry and sunny in central, southern and eastern England, but cloudy weather will spread to all parts from the north-west, with rain spreading across Scotland during the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures will be well above the seasonal average in England and Wales on Saturday, widely reaching 11 to 13C, but it will turn cooler from the north-west in Scotland and Northern Ireland. On Sunday it will generally be cooler over England and Wales, but still with highs of 10 or 11C over the south. However, frost will develop widely over England, Wales and Scotland on Saturday night, with temperatures widely dropping close to or just below freezing.
Into next week, the generally west to north-westerly type looks set to continue, with variable amounts of cloud and temperatures mostly near or above the seasonal average, but there are hints that it will turn more unsettled with time, with some snow on high ground, mainly in the north.