The UK is set for a week of spring warmth and increasingly changeable conditions, with temperatures expected to stay above average for most of the country before the week is out. Monday begins warm for many, but showers will move south across parts of Scotland and England, and some could turn heavy with a risk of thunder in eastern Scotland and parts of central and southeast England.
A headline high of around 23C is possible in southern England on Monday, before Tuesday brings a noticeably cooler feel for many. Cloud and patchy drizzle are expected early, but sunny spells should develop widely later, with highs near 19C possible in north-west Scotland and western Northern Ireland. That dip comes after a mild start, but it will not last long.
Wednesday and Thursday should bring plenty of sunshine for many as high pressure returns and the weather stays largely dry and fine. Southern areas may turn windier by then, however, with coastal gales possible in parts of the southwest. From later Thursday into Friday, rain and showers are expected to spread from the south and west, and some of that rain could be heavy and thundery.
Tom Crabtree said: “By Friday, conditions are expected to become more unsettled, with rain and showers spreading in from the southwest, some of which could be heavy and possibly thundery.” He added: “Ahead of this, it will feel warm and humid in parts of England on Friday, with temperatures potentially reaching 24°C in central and southern areas.”
That late-week burst matters because it could bring another brief spell of heat before the pattern breaks down again. The Met Office says temperatures are above average for most of the UK this week, and it also wants people to keep an eye on UV levels even when cloud rolls in. In other words, the warmth is real, but it will not come with settled skies.
The Bank Holiday weekend is expected to be more changeable, with showers at times and sunnier intervals, especially in the north, and the mix of sunshine and showers should carry on through Sunday and Monday. Crabtree said: “Into the Bank Holiday weekend, the weather looks more changeable, with showers at times – particularly in the north – but also some sunnier intervals.” That is the answer for anyone hoping for a run of dry days: the warmth may return, but the forecast does not settle down for long.
