After a prolonged colder spell, a strengthening jet stream brings significant change to Britain's weather pattern. Temperatures rise markedly through the period, though at the cost of increasingly unsettled and windy conditions.
The promised milder conditions arrive today as an invigorated jet stream finally clears ten days of cold weather away into central and eastern Europe. Thursday will be milder still, with Friday becoming unusually mild for February when temperatures could reach 16 or 17C locally across parts of the East and South. However, there will be a price to pay, as conditions become very unsettled and windy. Gales are likely in the West and North, becoming severe over exposed coasts and hills, with spells of heavy rain in places.
A slight frost occurred initially across the eastern halves of England and Wales, though Wednesday afternoon will turn milder. The East remains rather cold, with temperatures reaching only 6 or 7C, while further West 10 to 12C is more likely. The milder air brings cloud and a band of rain, preceded by snow over some Scottish hills. The rain has already cleared Northern Ireland, Wales and the South West, but the front responsible is weak. Consequently, mainly the North and West will be wet, while the East and South East stay dry in a freshening and cold South East wind.
After a brief lull for some into the evening, conditions turn milder everywhere overnight with temperatures ranging from 8 to 12C by Thursday morning. The southerly wind will become more noticeable, strengthening in the West. More generally unsettled conditions develop as fronts sweep quickly North and East across Britain, bringing showery bursts of rain. These will be heavy in the West, potentially clearing from Northern Ireland by dawn, while further East, the rain will likely be lighter and more patchy.
Thursday brings breezy but much milder conditions, with a fresh to strong South to South Westerly wind, reaching gale force in the West and North for a time. Rain will clear from the West throughout the day, followed by a scattering of blustery showers, some heavy in the West with possible local thunder. Despite the unsettled conditions, everywhere will feel much milder, with temperatures broadly ranging from 12 to 14C.
Fewer showers are expected into the evening, mainly affecting the North and West, with some clear intervals possible in the East initially. While the wind may decrease slightly, this lull will be temporary before another frontal system sweeps in from the South. This will bring rain and freshening southerly winds overnight, likely affecting all but Scotland by morning as the unsettled pattern continues. Conditions remain mild everywhere with no frost expected, as temperatures stay between 8 and 11C.
Friday will be mostly wet and windy but exceptionally mild, with likely gales, perhaps severe for a time in the West. The rain should eventually clear from the South West later or after dark but may stall across eastern England, potentially leaving it dull and wet early Saturday. Much of Saturday should be somewhat finer with sunny spells, especially in the East and South, while the North and West remain breezy with showers. Sunday sees more rain moving in from the West, remaining very mild although somewhat less so than previous days.
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