So far this week there has been plenty of spring sunshine, temperatures well up into the teens with a few spots even passing 20C in light winds. Will it all last into the weekend?
So far this week there has been plenty of spring sunshine, temperatures well up into the teens with a few spots even passing 20C in light winds. Will it all last into the weekend?
Two reminders for the weekend first. It is Mothers' Day on Sunday and the clocks change. Spring forward.
The high pressure responsible for the first half of the week has been centred away to the east, over southern Scandinavia. This has drawn up air from the southeast, from Europe. As the week progresses the high drifts over the UK and the winds fall calm with more chance of fog by night. At the weekend, it looks like southern England will just begin to catch more of an east/NE flow. The current southerly flow has allowed temperatures to rise in the bright sunshine and give the spring warmth.
Temperatures just over 20C early this week.
Anything more easterly, coming in over the still chilly North Sea, will bring an edge to the air. Kent and perhaps East Sussex could feel cooler due to that breeze. And certainly for the NW Highlands, much cooler with more cloud and a westerly breeze to end the weekend.
The sunshine will still feel warm by day as will sheltered spots but in the shade and certainly after dark there remains a nip. It’s not quite shorts weather, whatever it looks like out of the window.
There is little change in the air at the surface over the next few days but we lose the cooler air aloft and so it’s a stable picture into the weekend
Overall the weekend will be fine, sunny and dry. Shetland will see more cloud and patchy rain on Saturday from a passing warm front heading northeast then blustery showers passing by on Sunday but that is about it for rain across the UK. There will be more cloud for northern Scotland on Saturday but confined to the Northern Isles by Sunday. To end the weekend there is a signal that low cloud will edge into eastern Britain from the North Sea later on Sunday. This is what High pressures do, they take time to shift, block incoming low pressures (for the UK those from the Atlantic) and the main changes are whether there are clear skies and sunshine or gloomy grey cloud cover.
The weekend manages to keep the sunny high. There will be some frost by night and mist or fog which should readily clear in the morning sunshine.
Saturday morning will see mostly very light winds but more of a NE breeze for southern England which will be moderate to fresh for north coast of Kent and the Channel Islands. Also noticeable into The Wash by the afternoon. On Sunday, still a brisk breeze through the English Channel keeping things cooler as a moderate westerly develops over the far north of Scotland. In between still light winds.
The whole ‘not bothering with a coat or jumper’ too early in the season and then regretting it is particularly apparent along the east coast of Britain. The North Sea is still cold at this time of year. There is a distinct lag. Autumn sees high Sea Surface Temps (SSTs) and early spring is cold. Yes to 5mm wetsuits and boots and the air off that cold sea surface will keep an edge to it, especially with the morning dampness.
Wales and western England - Doing well in the sunshine with temperatures still in the mid to high teens. The odd spot may reach 20C, Porthmadog reached 20.7C on Tuesday. Bristol 17C Saturday 18C Sunday. For the Cardiff marathon on Sunday - Fine and sunny, warming up with light winds. 10C to 15C over 4 hours.
Southern England – Fine and sunny but the east/NE breeze affecting some hills and coasts. Low cloud could edge in through the Thames estuary later on Sunday. London 19C Saturday 18C Sunday
Eastern England Warm in sheltered sunshine but cooler along the coast, especially if low cloud arrives off the sea later on Sunday. Ipswich Saturday 16C Sunday 14C
Northern Ireland - Fine and fair, warm in the sunshine Belfast 16C Saturday 15C Sunday
Scotland - Warm in the sunshine but cooler in the north as the cloud and breeze increases. Glasgow 16C this weekend
Northern England - Fine and dry Newcastle 15c Saturday 16C Sunday, no breeze, feeling warm in the sunshine. Manchester - Saturday 18C Sunday 17C very light winds.
Air pollution - Levels have been high midweek with stagnating air over the UK and a drift of particulate pollution from Europe. Outlook from DEFRA : "Moderate levels of air pollution widely across the UK. Urban areas and particularly southeast England at risk of reaching High" to start the weekend. Then easing as the flow shifts from the SE but moderate for NW England and Northern Ireland by Sunday.
Pollen – there will be moderate levels of fungal spores in the sunshine and the tree pollen season is also beginning in southern Britain. Still low for northern Britain and Northern Ireland.
Next week looks colder as the wind turns to the north and there could even be some snow for northern hills. Enjoy the spring sunshine while you can.
