As British Summer Time begins, settled conditions dominate the forecast with high pressure firmly in control. Dry weather and abundant sunshine are set to continue, though rural areas may still experience chilly nights with a touch of frost around dawn.
It's been a dry late winter and early spring with below average totals in February being followed by an even drier March that, so far, has seen some parts recording less than 20% of their mean average rainfall. It's also been a very sunny month that's currently on par especially across parts of the Midlands and the east with some of the sunniest March's recorded since meaningful totals began in 1910.
And you can expect a fair amount of sunshine this Mothering Sunday afternoon to swell the total further, as pressure builds across the country. It'll also continue mainly dry, although a blustery West or North West wind will bring a few light showers to the north and north east of Scotland before the wind decreases later. Cloud moving into North West Scotland and Northern Ireland will also give a little light rain or drizzle in places. Maximum temperatures 8 to 13C across the northern half of Scotland, but 14 to 16C locally 17C is more likely further south.
You should have put your clocks forward an hour this morning, as we enter British Summer Time bringing lighter evenings. Most see some sunshine to end the day, the exceptions being the north and west of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Here further patchy mostly light rain or drizzle seems likely, but the cloud coupled with a southerly breeze should prevent temperatures from falling below about 7 or 8C. Elsewhere clear spells and light winds allow it to turn quite chilly, with a touch of frost and a few mist or fog patches likely in some rural areas briefly around dawn. Lowest temperatures close to freezing, but with 2 to 5C probably a more general minimum.
With a large anticyclone over the country on Monday, the mainly dry note continues into the new working week. There'll be further sunny spells with just mostly small amounts of cloud 'bubbling-up' through the day. Northern Ireland should also see more in the way of sunshine by the afternoon, although the far north and north west may continue to see cloud giving patchy light rain or drizzle. Winds generally will be light and after a chilly start, the afternoon will feel quite warm as temperatures reach 13 to 17C generally and 18 or 19C across parts of central and southern England.
As our resident anticyclone moves into the North Sea after dark, there'll be subtle changes. The weather will clear from northern Scotland, with an easterly breeze beginning to develop across southern England. All parts stay with clear spells overnight after further sunshine into the early evening. Winds generally will be light with a touch of frost and few mist or fog patches forming again around dawn, but both will be short-lived. Lowest temperatures 3 to 5C but perhaps close to freezing again in some rural valleys and glens.
With high pressure dominating well into the first half of April, the fine mainly dry weather is set to continue with lots of sunshine. There'll be some warm afternoons, but also a few further chilly nights and with winds often in an easterly quarter, North Sea coasts will be cooler, perhaps with sea fret 'rolling in' from time to time.
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