A spell of warmer and more settled spring weather is expected to develop across the UK this week, with temperatures rising noticeably by the middle of the week.
After a start to the week marked by heavy rain and blustery winds in parts of the north, conditions are expected to gradually improve, although the weather will remain changeable at times.
On Monday, more unsettled conditions will develop for some areas, though eastern parts of the country may see some brighter spells during the morning. Rain will move slowly eastwards through the day, becoming lighter and more patchy in places. The far south is expected to remain largely dry, with temperatures close to the seasonal average and highs of around 13°C to 14°C.
Cloud will be widespread at the start of Tuesday, but skies are expected to brighten through the day across England and Wales, bringing increasing spells of sunshine. Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to remain cloudier with further outbreaks of rain. Where sunshine develops, particularly in southern and western areas, temperatures could reach 15°C or 16°C, with the possibility of an isolated 17°C.
According to the Met Office, Wednesday is expected to be the warmest day of the week for many parts of the UK as high pressure becomes more dominant.
Dan Harris, Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said: “Wednesday looks likely to be the warmest day of the week for many, with high pressure dominant. The warmest spots are likely to be in parts of west Wales and western England where, under sunny skies, 18°C to 19°C, possibly even 20°C, is on the cards.
“This is due to the additional boost expected from the passage of east to south-easterly winds over areas of higher ground, known as the Foehn effect.
“There’ll be a big diurnal range this week, which is the difference between the maximum daytime temperature and minimum overnight temperature. Thanks to the clear skies during the day, we’ll see some chilly nights after the warmer days, with a few places experiencing air frost.”
Thursday is expected to remain dry and settled with plenty of sunshine, before temperatures ease back closer to the seasonal average by Friday.
