WEEKLY FORECAST FOR Monday 21st -Sunday
27th April 2008
ISSUED Saturday 19th April 0930Z
WARNINGS OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE WEATHER: None
WEEKLY SUMMARY
Generally a settled start in the north but more unsettled further south and west with low pressure to the SE and high pressure further north and a chilly E'ly flow dominating initially but this trend reversing by the end of the week as high pressure dominates across the south
and SE by the weekend and low pressure lies to the NW, giving a lot of warm sunny weather
by day in the south/SE but keeping it cloudier and possibly damper further NW in a mild S-SWly
flow.
DAY BY DAY OUTLOOK
Monday 21st sees high pressure
to the north and low pressure over the near SE continent giving a chilly E-NE'ly flow right across the UK with some fronts
or troughs moving west across the south in the flow at times. A chilly start with a slight ground frost inland
in Scotland but generally too much cloud and wind around with some light rain in places, mainly the SE. A dry day for central
and western parts in the main with early low cloud about but a few outbreaks of light showery rain may occur across the SE, south and Midlands, SW
and Wales. Generally SE parts
will be dampest, with some moderate outbreaks possible later on in the day. By
evening as skies clear in the north and west some mist and local fog patches forming inland and across Scotland
a fairly widespread ground
frost likely again inland away from
eastern coasts but staying mainly
dull and cloudy further south. Temperatures
10-13C in the south, 8-11C in central and northern areas but only 5C over the Highlands, cold for late April here.
Tuesday 22nd will see high
pressure to the north near N Scotland and low pressure over the SE continent
still moving away as further fronts move into western and SW parts during the day. A chilly start with a widespread ground in central and western
Scotland, cloudier elsewhere with further light rain in the SE still. This should slowly die out though as it moves west into more central areas later in the morning. By day a few sunny periods across the west and
north for a time but later on clouding up from the west as rain reaches the far SW
by late evening and winds freshen from the SE. Staying cloudy elsewhere though
the far north and maybe East Anglia and Lincs may be clearer with a slight ground frost before midnight. Temperatures reaching 11-14C in the south, maybe 15C in sheltered west Wales but generally 8-12C over the north but only 5-6C over high ground across the Highlands of Scotland.
Wednesday 23rd will see high pressure to the NE of Scotland as fronts
push slowly NE across more southern and western parts during the day. Winds generally SE'ly and quite strong at times near SW coasts and Wales and the west
initially but veering more S'ly later on and abating. A chilly night in some northern parts with temperatures
low enough for a ground frost in sheltered parts but clouding up later in the night and temperatures rising before dawn. A
lot of cloud further south west with some rain moving up across most parts by morning and into Scotland too. Some low cloud and coastal and hill fog patches about
too in England and Wales but clearing by afternoon to give sunny periods for many areas especially the east and SE with some
showers developing in the south and west. Some may be on the heavy side, possibly thundery. By evening drier generally and clearer for many as the showers peter out
though they may well continue in the SW as an area of low pressure works NE across into southern parts later on in the
evening and across the NE of England and E Scotland as well. Temperatures about 13-16C in the south, generally only 9-12C further
north and perhaps only 5C over Highland Scotland still.
Thursday 24th looks likely to see a weak area of low pressure across the south & central
parts with rain or showery rain overnight here, some quite heavy in places at times, more especially in the SW and near
southern coasts. This will become more showery by day. Another area of rain across NE
Scotland will be rather persistent and slow moving overnight too. In between a clearer night and cold enough for just a touch
of ground frost across sheltered parts too and some mistiness about by dawn. Soon clearing to give some reasonable sunny periods in the morning across the north of England, southern
Scotland and Northern Ireland. Showers soon bubbling up here though and some quite heavy
and possibly thundery by afternoon almost anywhere. Temperatures about 12-15C in the south and central parts of the UK but
more like 10-13C across N Ireland Scotland & N England though
some cloudier parts here may only see 9-10C.
Friday 25th looks likely at present to see high presure
develop to the SE of the UK and weak low pressure systems straddling the
NW of the UK, with fronts affecting these parts in particular. A chilly night in a few sheltered northern areas across Scotland, a touch of ground frost possible. Generally cloudier overnight elsewhere though the far SE
may be clearer. Some light rain across N Ireland, Wales and the NW of England will move slowly NE with
associated fronts. Ahead of this overnight in the far north and N Isles mainly dry and reasonably clear. Much cloudier too though across central
England and the south at first but breaking up by mid morning, especially in the SE and east to give sunny periods though a few showers may well develop
by the afternoon, possibly on the heavy side. Generally
temperatures will be near average in the west and north at around 10-13C
by afternoon though central and western Scotland may
only see 6-8C but parts of the south and SE of England may
be fairly warm at 15-16C.
Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th is rather uncertain still as regards
fine detail but it does look
like high pressure will lie across the SE with a breezy S'ly flow across most western parts with plenty of sunshine around in the south and east. Cloudier in the SW, west and NW with some light showery rain about, this more especially in the far
NW on Sunday as fronts push in from the west. The south east in particular should see good sunny periods both days also across E Anglia
and the east coastal counties too though this may well take a while to develop
as low overnight mist and cloud lifts though on both days. Both Saturday
and Sunday night may well just about
see a slight air frost in
sheltered parts of Scotland. Temperatures generally a very pleasant 15-18C in central, southern and eastern parts over the weekend, but more like 12-14C in the north and NE and only 9C still across the Highlands of Scotland.
SPECIAL FEATURES TO MONITOR THIS WEEK
*Risk of slight frost at night inland in Scottish central areas next weekend
*Risk of hail showers
with thunder in places in places esp central and northern parts midweek
with gusty winds
*Risk of mist and fog patches inland initially in the far north then across the south during the midweek period onwards
FORECAST CONFIDENCE is moderate-high
