BBC Weather Monthly Outlook...

[Cheese Rice]

BBC monthly outlook- "It will stay on the colder side with stronger winds and showers. There is an increasing risk of these showers turning to snow in northern areas.""Low pressure centred over Europe and high pressure over the Atlantic will result in a cold north or northeasterly wind across the UK."

NE winds are my favourite http://nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif as they are just as good as easterlys if not better , a high chance of cold weather if the beeb thinks so as they get all there data from the meto super computer

[Snowstorm1]

BBC monthly outlook- "It will stay on the colder side with stronger winds and showers. There is an increasing risk of these showers turning to snow in northern areas.""Low pressure centred over Europe and high pressure over the Atlantic will result in a cold north or northeasterly wind across the UK."

NE winds are my favourite as they are just as good as easterlys if not better , a high chance of cold weather if the beeb thinks so as they get all there data from the meto super computer

I know a Northeasterly is better than an easterly so im so excited http://nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Stuart]

Monthly Summary

Remaining settled and largely dry at first in the south and west, but the more unsettled weather in the north will edge southwards later on.

The previous week has seen above average temperatures for the time of year with maximum values of up to 13 or 14C in many parts of the UK. These figures are more like the average temperatures for around late April. Average late February maximum temperatures range from around 7 to 9C.

However, although it felt very mild after the recent prolonged cold spell, temperatures were still far from record breaking.

February 1945 was the joint mildest February of the 20th century, along with 1903. In February 1945 there were persistent south-westerly winds and a top temperature of 18C was reached in parts of the south-east on the 18th.

The past week has not seen a great deal of rainfall which combined with the mild weather made for a decent half term break for many.

Monday 23 February 2009 to Sunday 01 March 2009

“A dry and mild start for many.”

There will be a good deal of fine and settled weather in the south but with plenty of cloud which will help keep frost and fog to a minimum.

It will be more unsettled in the north with rain at times and even the risk of some snow over the northern Scottish mountains.

Temperatures are likely to be near or a little above the seasonal average across the week as a whole, but there is a trend for slightly cooler weather coming down from the north during the weekend.

Rainfall is expected to be below average for the time of year for much of England and Wales, particularly in the south. Further north rainfall will be nearer average, especially in the north-west.

Sunshine amounts are expected to be near the seasonal average for all areas of the UK.

Monday 02 March 2009 to Sunday 08 March 2009

"A change to cooler, more unsettled conditions."

There will be a trend towards lower pressure and more unsettled weather conditions this week.

Temperatures will fall, resulting in values that are slightly below normal for the time of year across all parts of the UK - perhaps even well below average in southern parts of England and Wales.

More rainfall will mean that amounts are likely to be around average for most although it may remain slightly drier than usual in the south.

There will probably be less sunshine than average, especially in the east.

Monday 09 March 2009 to Sunday 22 March 2009

“Staying unsettled.”

Early indications show that a west or north-westerly airflow could dominate through this week, keeping the weather pattern in an unsettled vein.

The temperature will remain below average and probably well below average in the north.

Rainfall and sunshine amounts will probably be close to average values for mid March with all parts seeing some wet weather and some drier spells as well.

Is spring on the way? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Cold and unsettled at first, then turning milder.

Very mild weather was the theme in the last couple of weeks in February.

Temperatures peaked at 15.3C (59F) in Charlwood, Surrey on Friday 27th, making it the warmest day of the year so far. That sort of temperature is more likely in April.

For early March the average temperature ranges from 7 or 8C in Scotland to 9 or 10C in southern England.

The first week of March is set to see temperatures dipping back down below the seasonal average, as cold air floods across the UK. And with that comes a return to wintry weather.

Monday 02 March 2009 to Sunday 08 March 2009

“Turning cold with some snow.”

Low pressure will dominate the week. The centre of the system will start off over Iceland and slowly drift towards the north of Scotland.

As this happens, we'll see colder air coming down across the UK. Daytime temperatures will be closer to 5 or 6C by the middle and latter part of the week while night time temperatures will be close to or below freezing by the same time.

Monday sees the start of the transition. Wet and windy weather starts off across Scotland and Northern Ireland, slowly easing as it spreads further south and east.

Tuesday looks wet and windy for all parts of the UK with some significant snow in Scotland.

Wednesday sees that band of rain, snow and strong winds clearing the east coast with scattered wintry showers following. Thursday will be another cold day with further wintry showers.

Towards the end of the week and into the weekend, things look set to change again. This time westerly winds are expected which will bring milder air and fronts in from the Atlantic.

Monday 09 March 2009 to Sunday 15 March 2009

"Average temperatures and rainfall."

High pressure to the south-west of the UK and low pressure to the north will result in a westerly airflow.

Most places will see temperatures close to normal although they may be a little lower than normal in the south-west, where there is the possibility of some night frosts.

Many areas will see some rainfall, although the Midlands might have amounts below the seasonal average while the north-west of Scotland could possibly see rainfall amounts above the seasonal average.

Monday 16 March 2009 to Sunday 29 March 2009

“Milder and wetter.”

Westerly winds are likely to dominate over these two weeks, with most places seeing temperatures and rainfall amounts around, or a bit higher than, the seasonal average.

The northern half of the UK is expected to see quite a lot of cloud and consequently there will be below-average amounts of sunshine.

What's in store for early April? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Unsettled and windy at first but becoming drier later.

The first full week of March saw the gradual return of some generally cooler and windier weather across the UK although it was changeable with the occasional milder and sunnier day.

Strong winds featured regularly with a gust of 70mph recorded in Aberdaron on Tuesday and 85mph at Orlock head in County Antrim on Saturday.

Wednesday night into Thursday morning saw some heavy snowfalls in Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset with up to 15cm falling in places. Other southern counties also had problems with sleet, snow and ice - a reminder that winter is not quite finished with us yet!

Saturday brought a brief respite with some warm sunshine in many areas. It was the warmest day of the week with a high of nearly 14C recorded in London.

Sunday brought the return of cold winds and wintry showers which is how we will start the new week.

Monday 09 March 2009 to Sunday 15 March 2009

“Some rather cold, wet and windy weather at first.”

We start this week with our weather being dominated by Atlantic weather systems, giving a typically unsettled flavour to things. A series of fronts will push across the UK from the west giving periods of wet and windy weather.

The wettest weather will be in the north and west with some snow over higher ground.

The first area of widespread rain will move across the whole of the UK on Monday night, bringing further snowfall onto higher ground in northern areas.

Tuesday will be somewhat drier with the winds easing a touch, especially in the north.

Wednesday will see more rain, mostly in northern and central Britain, whilst in the south it will start to turn a bit milder.

The end of the week sees a bit of a battle taking place. Colder air tries to push down once again from the north but as pressure builds in the south it may not reach all areas, so it looks like we could end up with temperatures averaging around the seasonal norm.

Monday 16 March 2009 to Sunday 22 March 2009

"A drier, more settled look to the weather."

It could start to look a bit more like spring this week as a light and variable airflow is likely to affect the UK for much of the week.

Pressure will be relatively high with light winds and often clear skies.

Temperatures could struggle a bit with a general trend for slightly below average values for the time of year.

Northern areas of Britain especially will see plenty of drier days and could well see below average rainfall for the time of year.

With regards to sunshine the forecast is for at least seasonal average or above seasonal average amounts during the week.

Monday 23 March 2009 to Sunday 05 April 2009

“Staying fairly settled into April.”

At present it looks as though this period will see low pressure towards Iceland and high pressure across the Azores, producing a light westerly airflow and reasonably settled conditions.

Temperatures will be around average or slightly below average for the time of year in places.

Rainfall will be around the seasonal average for late March and early April but there are signs that Northern Ireland could see more wet weather than other parts of the UK.

There will no doubt be some sunshine but the current forecast is for slightly less than the seasonal average.

As the Spring equinox draws near, come back next week to see if things are going to get a bit milder.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Monthly Summary

A warm and sunny start but turning cooler and more unsettled later on.

Last week saw some rather unsettled weather with rain, showers and strong winds regularly featuring in the forecast.

Early on Tuesday, Capel Curig recorded 24mm/1 inch of rain. After the rain it turned very cold with temperatures as low as -3C recorded at Benson and Eskdalemuir. There were some fairly mild days with highs of 15C recorded in London, Ballykelly and Harwarden.

The weekend began on a very windy note with gales in Scotland but Sunday turned out very pleasant for most people as the winds became lighter and the sun came out. These conditions will be what we begin the week ahead with.

March is usually quite a changeable month, however, so we mustn't get too excited about Spring just yet!

Monday 16 March 2009 to Sunday 22 March 2009

“A warm and sunny start but turning colder again towards the end.”

Monday looks set to be the warmest day of the year so far for some of us, especially towards the south and east of England.

We begin the week with high pressure and a good deal of warm sunshine in southern parts. Further north it will start off wet but the sunshine will come out here as well.

A weather front will drift southwards bringing rain to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England but the rain will die away by the end of Monday.

Tuesday and Wednesday will remain fine and settled with some warm, sunny spells by day and patchy frost and fog by night.

Towards the end of the week there are signs of a change to much cooler conditions as a north-easterly wind develops which may even bring a small risk of some wintry showers, especially to more south-eastern areas of the UK.

Monday 23 March 2009 to Sunday 29 March 2009

"A much colder week."

Low pressure remains close to south-east England and the near continent with a light cool breeze from the north or north-east.

Temperatures over Scotland will be near normal but for the rest of the UK, temperatures look like being below or even well below average.

Rainfall will probably be around normal for the whole country with sunshine amounts around average.

Monday 30 March 2009 to Sunday 12 April 2009

“Staying rather cool.”

A generally slack pressure pattern will emerge this week, so detail for this far ahead is very limited.

Rainfall amounts are expected to be around average with temperatures generally staying below or well below average so it will be a rather chilly start to April.

Sunshine amounts are also expected to be around average for many but could be below normal in central and south-eastern parts of the country.

As Easter Bank Holiday approaches, what will the weather hold? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Cooler with rain at times.

Last week saw mild day-time conditions and chilly nights. During the day the temperature regularly reached 16C(61F), well above the average of 10C (50F).

There was very little rain and lots of sunshine. However, the spell of dry and sunny weather is coming to an end.

The area of high pressure that brought the settled conditions and spring warmth is going to be squeezed out into the Atlantic.

This will allow stronger winds from the west or north-west which will combine with areas of low pressure to bring rain.

Monday 23 March 2009 to Sunday 29 March 2009

“Cooler, wetter and windier.”

It will be a much more unsettled week with strong winds and spells of rain. It will feel colder as the wind strengthens and temperatures will be much nearer the average for late March.

A stronger wind on Monday will push a band of rain south, followed by sunshine and showers which will turn wintry over the Scottish hills.

Frost is likely on Tuesday morning before light rain spreads slowly east during the day.

Sunshine and blustery showers are expected on Wednesday. It should remain wet and windy on Wednesday night. Rain will slowly clear southern areas on Thursday, although there is expected to be a mixture of sunshine and showers to the north.

The weather on Friday and the weekend will be dominated by a large slow-moving area of low pressure that will bring showers and strong winds.

Monday 30 March 2009 to Sunday 05 April 2009

"Drier and sunnier later in the week."

It is expected to be a very unsettled start to the week with low pressure near Scotland bringing wet and windy conditions.

There is also a possibility of snow, mainly over high ground in the north.

Later in the week it is predicted that an Atlantic ridge will move slowly across bringing the potential for more sunshine and drier weather. However, this will increase the risk of overnight frost.

Monday 06 April 2009 to Sunday 19 April 2009

“Rain at times.”

This period will generally be dominated by a westerly airflow.

Rainfall will be above average and sunshine below average in the south and east of the UK for the time of year.

Temperatures are expected to be around the seasonal average.

As Easter approaches, what will the weather hold for the April Bank Holiday? Find out more details next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Last week saw more unsettled conditions return to the UK. It became cooler and windier with some rain and showers.

Most places saw some rain but the wettest weather was often in Highland Scotland. Loch Glascarnoch recorded around 32mm of rain on both Monday and Friday.

Thursday was the warmest day of the week when temperatures reached over 15C in places.

Sunday brought the start of British Summer Time and as the clocks went forward we saw a shift in the weather to drier, more settled conditions once again. This is how we start the new week.

Monday 30 March 2009 to Sunday 05 April 2009

“Dry but cloudy.”

The new week begins with a ridge of high pressure extending across southern parts of the UK.

A weak weather front will drift down from the north, continuing to diminish as it moves into the area of high pressure.

Pressure will continue to build as the week progresses, resulting in a lot of fine and settled weather for most parts.

It will remain breezier across the far north with the risk of a little rain at times.

It is likely that there will be large amounts of cloud around during this week. However, where the sunshine does appear it will feel warm.

Monday 06 April 2009 to Sunday 12 April 2009

"More unsettled."

A change to generally unsettled weather looks increasingly likely with spells of rain for many parts.

The south is likely to see the driest weather, with clear or sunny spells appearing between bands of rain.

It will be windy at times with a risk of gales, particularly in the north and west.

Temperatures are likely to be around average for early April though there will still be a low risk of overnight frost and also some snow on the Scottish mountains.

Monday 13 April 2009 to Sunday 26 April 2009

“Becoming warmer.”

It is predicted that pressure will remain generally higher in the south and lower in the north. There will be rain at times for most of the UK but some areas could remain largely dry.

There is likely to be a good amount of sunshine and temperatures across the UK are expected to be well above the seasonal average.

Will the settled conditions continue into May? Find out next week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Monthly Summary

Unsettled at first but becoming more settled later.

After a fine weekend for most of the UK, with sunny spells prevailing and above average temperatures, it looks as if things are set to change over the next few days.

Average temperatures for early April are in the range of 10C in Aberdeen to about 12C in London. On the 4th of April, in London, we saw 18C followed by 15C on the 5th.

In spite of the forecast rain this week, temperatures will probably stay a little bit above average and the rain will be good news for parks and gardens.

Monday 06 April 2009 to Sunday 12 April 20099

“Unsettled.”

A series of low pressure systems will cross the UK this week bringing spells of wet and windy weather or blustery showers. There will be some drier and brighter interludes but all in all it's an unsettled picture.

There will be quite a lot of rain this week. With the rain moving in from the Atlantic, western areas will see the worst of it, indeed, we could well see above average amounts of rainfall here, while elsewhere rainfall amounts will be closer to the norm.

Temperatures are likely to stay above average this week, maybe even well above average in East Anglia and overnight temperatures are also expected to stay a little higher than usual.

With a fair amount of cloud and rain forecast, sunshine amounts are likely to be a little below normal. Confidence for this period is high.

Monday 13 April 2009 to Sunday 19 April 2009

"Sunny and warm."

High pressure will be trying to exert its influence over the southern half of the UK, while low pressure will be the dominant theme in the north.

Rainfall amounts will be quite variable. More than the seasonal average amount of rain can be expected in Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, while a bit less than average is likely in Northeast England. Elsewhere amounts should be close to normal.

Both sunshine amounts and temperatures are expected to be near to above average.

Monday 20 April 2009 to Sunday 03 May 2009

“Settling down.”

Confidence is relatively low at this range. However, computer model output and guidance suggest that high pressure will become more and more dominant, extending up across the UK from the southwest.

At the moment, forecast amounts of rain and sunshine show marked variations across the UK, as do the temperatures. Northern and eastern Scotland could see above average temperatures and a bit more sunshine than usual.

What's most likely for early May? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

An unsettled start to the period with some decent rain, then a move to high pressure for a while.

The slow-moving nature of the Easter weather provided us with either long spells of sunshine and temperatures in the mid-teens; or overcast and relatively cold conditions with some rain.

You had to move from one place to another to find these differences - the weather didn't come to you.

With a French depression developing, persistent rain is likely in southern Britain.

A strengthening easterly wind for the north of the UK will give cold and cloudy North Sea coasts but sunshine inland.

As the rain fades away and pressure rises, the question is will we have a sunny high or a cloudy one?

Monday 13 April 2009 to Sunday 19 April 2009

“Sunny north, wet south.”

The giant and lazy Atlantic low will encourage the development of a rather smaller but more active low pressure area over northern France.

The entire weather pattern is "blocked" at the moment so this low will stay more or less in place until the coming weekend.

Rain from the static French depression is likely to persist over most of Wales, central and southern England giving in excess of 25mm per day for some, so flooding could be a possibility.

Temperatures whilst it rains will struggle to exceed 11C. There will be a developing and strengthening easterly wind over all of the north of the UK.

It'll feel cold near the North Sea coasts and much cloud will feed up the estuaries.

Inland, sunshine should be abundant with temperatures in excess of 12C. This is the time to be in the western Highlands. 17C is possible here.

Monday 20 April 2009 to Sunday 26 April 2009

"Pressure rising, generally dry"

A ridge of high pressure will extend across southern and central parts of the UK giving the promise of some fine weather.

However, pressure will be lower in the north, which will keep the weather here rather more unsettled.

This has the advantage of giving a fine, warm and dry spell over last weeks wet area, southern Britain, whilst bringing a bit of rain to the north.

Because of the strength of the April sun, this anticyclone should be free of persistent cloud.

Monday 27 April 2009 to Sunday 10 May 2009

“Lower pressure returns.”

The forecast models suggest that Atlantic fronts will still make some impact and rainfall could be above normal in Northern Ireland and southwest Britain.

Temperatures should be around average for the time of year (low teens) but again, forecast models suggest lower than average potential in parts of England.

his should probably be read as morning fog, or, more disappointingly, long-lasting low cloud.

Recently, temperatures have reached 20C. At this time of year, the sun can do better and probably will during this period.

Will temperatures rise for the rest of May? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Monday 20 April 2009 to Sunday 26 April 2009

"Pressure rising, generally dry"

A ridge of high pressure will extend across southern and central parts of the UK giving the promise of some fine weather.

However, pressure will be lower in the north, which will keep the weather here rather more unsettled.

This has the advantage of giving a fine, warm and dry spell over last weeks wet area, southern Britain, whilst bringing a bit of rain to the north.

Because of the strength of the April sun, this anticyclone should be free of persistent cloud.

Monday 27 April 2009 to Sunday 10 May 2009

“Lower pressure returns.”

The forecast models suggest that Atlantic fronts will still make some impact and rainfall could be above normal in Northern Ireland and southwest Britain.

Temperatures should be around average for the time of year (low teens) but again, forecast models suggest lower than average potential in parts of England.

This should probably be read as morning fog, or, more disappointingly, long-lasting low cloud.

Recently, temperatures have reached 20C. At this time of year, the sun can do better and probably will during this period.

Will temperatures rise for the rest of May? Find out next week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

A wetter spell then drier again towards mid-May

For some of us, it almost felt as though summer had arrived early last week. There were long days of warm sunshine with temperatures reaching the high teens quite widely.

On most days of the week, London was the warmest spot, recording top temperatures of 20 or 21C.

There was very little rain to be found across the UK for most of the week, but by Friday things took a turn for the worse in southwest England as some heavy and thundery downpours developed.

Spot totals of up to 50mm were recorded resulting in some flash flooding.

Although the weekend remained fine and warm in many eastern parts, the showers in the west were the beginnings of a change to more unsettled weather for the week ahead.

Monday 27 April 2009 to Sunday 3 May 2009

“Much cooler and wetter”

After the balmy weather of last week, it will come as quite a shock to find temperatures on Monday up to 10C cooler.

A band of rain will sweep across all parts giving us a wet start to the new week.

For the following few days, that same rain band will linger in the east producing further rain and keeping things rather cool.

Further west there will be occasional heavy and thundery showers but also some brighter spells allowing the weather here to warm up intermittently.

Later in the week, another band of rain will move in from the Atlantic bringing another spell of wet weather to all, so in general it will be a much more unsettled week, low pressure being the dominating feature.

Monday 4 May 2009 to Sunday 10 May 2009

"More settled"

It will turn more settled as high pressure buidls to the northwest of the UK .

Many places will see a good deal of fine and sunny weather but there is a risk of showers, especially in the southeast.

Temperatures are expected to be close to normal with some warm days but chilly nights. Rainfall amounts should be below average in all areas.

Monday 11 May 2009 to Sunday 24 May 2009

“Staying fair”

High pressure will continue to dominate giving a lot of fine and dry weather.

Temperatures, sunshine and rainfall amounts reveal that it will remain dry, warm and sunny.

May looks like a dry month but check back next week for an update.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Becoming increasingly unsettled

Friday 1st of May saw a band of rain weaken rapidly as it moved south and east across the UK. Ahead of that, there was some warm sunshine to be found, the maximum temperature was 21.5C and that was recorded in Surrey.

The early May Bank Holiday Weekend started off in a very promising way with some warm sunshine for most parts of the UK, 20C was recorded in London. After some overnight rain, a noticeable northwesterly breeze on Sunday brought a slightly cooler feel to the day and a few showers.

By Sunday, temperatures were closer to the seasonal average, in the range of 11-13 C in Scotland, 13-15C in southern England.

Monday 04 May 2009 to Sunday 10 May 2009

“Wet and windy in central and northern areas”

Low pressure, centred near Iceland, will be the driving force early in the week. As a result, most northern and central parts of the country can expect to see some rain, amounts around normal. The rain in the northwest of Scotland and Cumbria will probably be quite heavy and here, rainfall amounts will be more than average.

Southern counties of England and south Wales will see higher pressure than elsewhere, as result rainfall is likely to be limited here, although there could be some heavy showers later in the week.

Sunshine amounts will vary from above average in the southeast of England to below average in Scotland.

Temperatures are likely to rise by a degree or two for most places, putting the forecast values into the above average category. We may even see well above average temperatures in the northeast of Scotland.

Monday 11 May 2009 to Sunday 17 May 2009

"Increasingly unsettled"

Unsettled conditions will spread down the east of England with settled conditions hanging on in the southwest. Heavy, possibly thundery, showers could bring large amounts of rain to central and eastern England.

Most other parts of the UK can also expect above average rainfall although in Northern Ireland and the northwest of Scotland amounts are likely to be closer to normal.

Sunshine amounts are likely to be average for most, maybe better than that in the northwest of Scotland where temperatures should be a little higher than usual. Elsewhere, temperatures will be close to normal but southern parts could be a bit on the cool side.

Monday 18 May 2009 to Sunday 31 May 2009

“High pressure may move in”

The pressure pattern for this period is indeterminate, there is no favoured outcome although there is some signal for high pressure to move in from the south at times.

At the moment, rainfall, sunshine amounts and temperatures look normal although it could get quite warm in the north.

What does early June have in store? Check back next week for an update.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Very wet at first, possibly drier later.

Low pressure will dominate by the end of the first week, which will bring spells of rain and the risk of flooding.

Given the warmth of the sun at this time of year and the instability of the air around areas of low pressure, showers that form will be heavy and thundery particularly over inland areas.

Pressure is expected to rise towards the end of the month, which should mean some drier spells particularly in the south. At best, temperatures are expected to be around the seasonal average.

Average maximum temperatures for the end of May range from 16C (61F) in the central Lowlands to 19C (66F) in south-east England.

Monday 11 May 2009 to Sunday 17 May 2009

“Turning wetter from the south.”

High pressure centred near Scotland will bring a dry and sunny start to the week. There will however be a strong to gale-force, easterly wind as an area of low pressure moves in from France.

This area of low pressure will bring heavy rain to southern England on Tuesday, followed by heavy and thundery showers which will push north to remaining areas on Wednesday and Thursday. There is the risk of heavy rain and disruption on Thursday.

There will be further rain at times during Friday and into the weekend with the potential for another spell of heavy rain and storms to move in from the near continent into eastern areas.

It will be windy for much of the week in northern areas. However, northern Scotland will remain drier for longer. Temperatures are expected to be near the seasonal average but it will feel colder in the wind and rain.

Monday 18 May 2009 to Sunday 24 May 2009

"Breezy with rain at times."

Low pressure centred over the UK will slowly drift north, which will mean that the weather is likely to be unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain. South-eastern areas may become drier and brighter later in the week.

Rainfall is expected to be above average for the time of year and temperatures are expected to be around 16C - 19C.

Monday 25 May 2009 to Sunday 07 June 2009

“Drier in the south.”

A ridge of high pressure is likely to extend up from the Azores. This will give spells of more settled weather, especially across southern areas.

There is no indication that pressure will build significantly and it is likely that Atlantic frontal systems will bring unsettled weather particularly to northern England and Scotland at times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

UK Outlook for Saturday 16 May 2009 to Monday 25 May 2009:

There is high confidence that high pressure, centred close to Scotland at first next weekend, will continue to decline away as low pressure over central and southern Britain extends steadily northwards during the first few days. After a fine start in Scotland there will be spells of rain or showers for all, the rain or showers particularly heavy over central and southern areas. The remainder of the period starts with this unsettled cyclonic pattern at first, all areas equally likely to see some rain or showers, with medium to high confidence, but some sunshine too. However, by the following weekend confidence has dropped to low, although some improvement to a drier, settled scenario may follow to the west. Temperatures near normal, occasionally feeling cold in wind and rain.

Updated: 1200 on Mon 11 May 2009

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_...st_weather.html

[Stuart]

Sun worshipers will be disappointed this week with no sign of an early start to summer.

The end of spring and beginning of summer merge into one another and are never well defined. We should be in that period now but you'd be forgiven for thinking we'd gone back a month or two instead.

At the moment, we are more or less underneath an atmospheric hole of low pressure. This has brought lower than average temperatures, strong winds and spells of rain and even a tornado in Derbyshire casing a stage collapse at a music festival.

This depression will fill and disappear by the end of this week and although the Azores High tries to make an entrance, there is no clear sign that it will be a strong influence.

Forecast rain and temperature are both around average, which at least is drier and warmer than now.

Monday 18 May 2009 to Sunday 24 May 2009

“Warmer, drier and more settled.”

Low pressure is expected to be centred near to the United Kingdom throughout the week, although it will weaken and drift northwards.

The start of the week will be showery and breezy, with some longer-lasting rain bands in circulation around this low centre. As a result, it will be cooler than the 14C to 17C average by 2 or 3 degrees.

The combination of low pressure and the strength of the sun will generate showers, so if you do catch a shower you can expect it to be heavy and thundery.

The trend is for fewer showers and less wind, more sunshine and therefore more warmth from Thursday. Forecast temperatures are in the low to mid twenties at the end of the week.

Monday 25 May 2009 to Sunday 31 May 2009

"A glimpse of summer but with the possibilty of rain."

A ridge of high pressure is likely to extend from the Azores to give spells of more settled weather, especially across southern Britain.

Unfortunately this will be a fleeting visit as the high retreats, allowing Atlantic fronts in every now and then.

On the upside, this is excellent growing weather.

Monday 01 June 2009 to Sunday 14 June 2009

“A very British summer of sun then showers”

The forecast indication remains occasional spells of rain alternating with sunshine. This will give an overall average, which, for late spring is fairly pleasant.

Will the Azores high come to stay? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Plenty of fine and settled weather in the coming weeks.

A very unsettled start to last week with some very heavy showers affecting many areas.

However, conditions settled down for the bank holiday weekend when we saw some of the warmest weather of the year so far, with temperatures reaching the mid-20's.

Average temperatures for this time of year range from around 16C in southern Scotland to 19C in southern England.

There will be more warm weather to come as we head towards the coming weekend. However, in the shorter term we will also have a fair amount of rain.

Monday 25 May 2009 to Sunday 31 May 2009

“A thundery start but settling down towards the end of the week.”

After some fairly lively weather on bank holiday Monday - caused in part by the high temperatures over the weekend - we will see quite a change over the following few days.

The main thing we will all notice on Tuesday is the change to much cooler and fresher conditions as the westerly winds pick up.

Tuesday will remain reasonably dry and bright in many areas thanks to a ridge of high pressure lying across the UK although there will be some showers, especially in the west.

After a dry night on Tuesday, weather fronts will arrive in the west bringing some cloud and rain for Wednesday. As we head towards the end of the week there will be a gradual improvement as high pressure builds across the UK once again.

At this stage there is fairly high confidence for another weekend of fine, warm and settled weather for the end of the half-term week.

Monday 01 June 2009 to Sunday 07 June 2009

"A fine start but chance of rain later."

June should begin on a warm and dry note with high pressure still the dominant feature.

There is a high probability that some rain could push into northern and western areas as the high declines slightly, but signals show that rainfall amounts will stay below average for the time of year.

There should be reasonable amounts of sunshine this week but we could see a slight drop in temperatures.

Monday 08 June 2009 to Sunday 21 June 2009

“The mainly dry theme continues”

We are still expecting a ridge of high pressure to give mainly settled conditions for much of the UK, particularly for England and Wales.

Scotland and Northern Ireland may well see some rain from Atlantic frontal systems.

In general, rainfall amounts are expected to remain below the seasonal average.

Southern and eastern areas will have the highest temperatures with the potential to be a little above average for the time of year.

A promising start to summer but will it last? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Largely dry but cooling down after a very warm start.

The past week has seen some of the warmest weather of the year so far with temperatures reaching around 26.5C in Cassley in the Highlands on Friday and Saturday and 26.9C recorded further south in Hampshire on Sunday.

Average temperatures for late May are around 16C to 19C.

It is interesting to note that this time of year often brings quite spectacular diurnal temperature variations.

For instance, Altnaharra recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 25.1C on Saturday, falling to a very chilly 1.7C overnight - a range of over 23 degrees!

Virtually clear blue skies ended what has been for many, a largely fine and dry half-term week.

As we start the new week there will be more of the same for a while, but things are set to change from midweek onwards with temperatures forecast to fall dramatically in many places.

Monday 01 June 2009 to Sunday 07 June 2009

“A warm and sunny start but turning cooler.”

Aside from the odd isolated shower there will be more warm, dry and sunny weather across most of the UK on Monday and Tuesday.

Scotland will start to see the changes first as on Tuesday a weak weather front will move down from the north bringing cloud, a little rain but most noticeably a sharp drop in temperatures - we can expect 15C in the north-east of Scotland.

By Wednesday, this cooler weather will have worked its way down across all of Scotland and the eastern half of England, bringing similar falls in temperatures. At this stage, it looks as though south-western parts of the UK should still be warm.

Towards the end of the week, the whole of the UK will have cooled off and many areas will feel distinctly chilly as northerly winds set in, bringing a few showers.

Monday 08 June 2009 to Sunday 14 June 2009

"A chance of rain."

There are signs that the Azores high could start to build back across the southern half of the UK maintaining largely dry conditions here.

However, low pressure will be the dominant feature further north so there will certainly be some rain or showers at times with a mainly westerly or north-westerly airflow.

Temperatures both by day and night are expected to remain below average for the time of year.

Both rainfall and sunshine amounts should fall within the expected range for the time of year but the south-west of England looks set to see some of the sunniest conditions.

Monday 15 June 2009 to Sunday 28 June 2009

“Warming up.”

High pressure stays with us for most of this period and should extend its influence across much of the UK resulting in mostly dry and often very sunny conditions.

Temperatures should recover from mid to late June onwards so it will feel more like summer again with some very warm days likely, particularly in the south.

Rainfall amounts could be very scanty in many areas although there is always the potential for some thundery outbreaks towards the south-east giving localised downpours.

Will the dry weather continue for the Wimbledon Tennis Championship? Find out more next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Monthly Summary.

An unsettled start with further rain or showers for many, but a chance of some drier weather later in the month.

The first week of June saw rather unseasonable weather, with below-average temperatures for the time of year and a good deal of wet weather.

While the week began with warm and sunny conditions, heavy showers developed and persistent east and north-easterly winds affected many areas by the end of the week.

Torrential rain and thunderstorms occurred across South Wales, east Cornwall and Devon on Saturday, moving north towards the Midlands and Lincolnshire on Sunday.

There were reports of flooding and power cuts and on Saturday over 90mm of rain was recorded in Devon.

The rain and wind kept daytime temperatures in some areas below 10C. Average values for early June are between 16C to 19C.

Western Scotland avoided most of the inclement weather, with sunshine amounts being some of the highest across the UK.

Monday 08 June 2009 to Sunday 14 June 2009

“Remaining unsettled.”

Monday will bring some respite from the rain in the south, which will see some sunny spells and fewer showers.

However, low pressure continues to dominate during much of this week. A further band of rain will move into south-west of England during the afternoon, making its way across southern and eastern England overnight and into Tuesday.

Wednesday and Thursday will once again bring sunshine and showers for much of the UK. However, many parts of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland will see the driest and sunniest conditions.

The end of the week is likely to see more rain in the south and this rain is expected to travel further northwards, eventually affecting north-west areas of the UK.

Temperatures are expected to remain around the June average. However, it will feel cooler in the showers and reasonably warm when the sun comes out.

Nights could be rather chilly with a risk of some ground frost in certain areas.

Monday 15 June 2009 to Sunday 21 June 2009

"Drier in the south."

High pressure should begin to build back across the southern half of the UK this week bringing some warmer and drier conditions, although there is the possibility of further rain.

North and north-west areas of the UK will see more unsettled conditions with cloudy skies and some rain.

As a result temperatures in the north are expected to remain around the seasonal average, whereas in the south temperatures may rise above the June average.

Monday 22 June 2009 to Sunday 05 July 2009

“Little change.”

As we head towards July, early indications show that high pressure will remain across southern parts with the highest temperatures to be found in south-east England.

Northern parts of the UK will probably see more wet weather. However, there are expected to be some clear spells, which could mean that night-time temperatures in the north-west fall below the seasonal average.

Will July be picnic weather? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Turning warmer towards the end of the month.

Although June contains the longest day (the day when the sun is at it's highest), this does not mean that it will be either the warmest or sunniest month.

A mixture of sunshine and showers is typical for June and there will be further thunderstorms and occasional Atlantic rain for the remainder of the month and into July.

Monday 15 June 2009 to Sunday 21 June 2009

“Heavy rain at first, turning warmer towards the end of the week.”

There will be widespread, slow-moving and sometimes thundery showers on Monday. These showers move away from the UK towards Scandinavia on Tuesday.

The next rain band is an active frontal system, and will enter the UK from the north-west at the start of Wednesday and leave the south coast by Thursday lunchtime. Significant rainfall amounts are likely as far south as the Midlands.

Temperatures will be within 2C of the seasonal average at the start of the week but could be well above this average by the weekend.

Short nights generally prevent a frost around this time of year but temperatures could be low enough on Thursday night to bring a risk of frost to some areas.

At this time of year the sun is almost at its strongest so under clear skies UV levels will be high and temperatures will rise rapidly.

Monday 22 June 2009 to Sunday 28 June 2009

"Westerly wind prevails."

The Azores high dominates over southern Britain during this week and it will be breezy and showery elsewhere.

Fairly typical summer conditions occur this week, giving a north-west/south-east divide in weather types. Showers may occur anywhere but will be prevalent in the north-west of the country.

Sunshine amounts will be around the seasonal average, although south-eastern Scotland may be above this average because of the shelter of the Highlands.

Temperatures are also likely to be average for the time of year but East Anglia should see temperatures a couple of degrees above this average. South-east Scotland could also see warmer conditions.

Monday 29 June 2009 to Sunday 12 July 2009

“Warming up.”

The wind looks likely to come from a south-westerly direction, which will be accompanied by showers.

As a result, rainfall and sunshine look likely to be around the seasonal average. Temperatures, however, could rise significantly to bring values to above the average for the time of year.

Can revellers at the Glastonbury Festival look forward to some sun? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Generally warm and settled.

This week the UK is underneath high pressure, which means rising temperatures and inland sunshine. However, windward coasts may experience a good deal of persistent cloud.

Rainfall will be generally low for the time of year and whilst the centre of the high is over us winds will be light.

As the high drifts northwards during next week, some thunder may affect southern parts of the UK.

For the last two weeks of this outlook a westerly breeze is expected, which could cause a few showers and bring temperatures back down to the seasonal average.

Monday 22 June 2009 to Sunday 28 June 2009

“A cloudy start but becoming warmer and more humid.”

A front will cause light rain to affect Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England until Tuesday. Rising temperatures could trigger a few showers in western areas of the UK by mid-week.

Rainfall looks likely to be below the seasonal average, although temperatures could rise to above average for the time of year, reaching the low to mid-twenties by Tuesday.

From Wednesday onwards, a generally easterly wind will mean it will be cool in eastern England and eastern Scotland.

Low cloud and mist could affect coastal areas of north-east England and eastern Scotland, which could result in a 10C drop in temperature from Tuesday (for example Lindisfarne in Northumberland is expected to register 22C on Tuesday and 12C on Thursday).

Monday 29 June 2009 to Sunday 05 July 2009

"A much cooler east to north-easterly wind."

There is low confidence regarding the details for this week but a cooler breeze is expected for much of the UK.

As the high pressure weakens, thunderstorms are expected to affect southern parts of England. A cooling breeze could mean temperatures fall to the low to mid-teens in North Sea counties and high teens to low twenties elsewhere.

Despite the thunderstorms, rainfall amounts are expected to be lower than the seasonal average.

Monday 06 July 2009 to Sunday 19 July 2009

“More settled conditions.”

Southern parts of Britain could be warm and settled as a result of the Azores High moving in.

The indication further north is that a light westerly breeze will mean that sunshine, temperature and rainfall amounts are expected to be near the seasonal average.

A mix of sunshine with occasional showers is expected for this week.

What will the start of the school summer holidays bring? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Very warm with heavy showers at first, cooling down later.

The new roof over centre court at Wimbledon was used for the first time on Saturday as thunderstorms developed across many parts of the UK.

Rising heat and humidity were contributory factors in their development, with large hailstones and vast amounts of rain falling in a short space of time. Flash floods occurred in various locations around the country.

Average temperatures for late June to early July are in the range of 17C to 18C in Glasgow and 21C or 22C in London. Saturday saw 28C in London, and temperatures look set to rise even further, beyond 30C for some, with high humidity.

It will become uncomfortable for many, especially at night as it will remain warm and humid. These temperatures have not been seen since the summer of 2006.

Monday 29 June 2009 to Sunday 05 July 2009

“Hot, humid and thundery at times.”

South-easterly winds will bring very warm and humid air from the near continent.

There will be plenty of dry and settled weather for many parts of the UK, which will be accompanied by a good deal of sunshine.

It will be very warm and humid for most, particularly across inland areas. This heat and humidity could trigger some thundery downpours, especially across central, northern and western areas where high rainfall totals are likely.

Elsewhere, rainfall amounts are likely to be near or below the seasonal average.

Confidence is high for hot and humid weather but the locations of the heavy downpours are currently difficult to pinpoint.

Monday 06 July 2009 to Sunday 12 July 2009

"Becoming cooler."

High pressure will begin to build from the south-west, which will bring a slightly cooler Atlantic flow across the UK.

Temperatures will remain above the seasonal average but it will not be as hot as this week.

North-east areas of Scotland will probably see the highest amounts of rain while remaining areas of the UK will experience a scattering of showers, which will bring no more than normal amounts of rain for the time of year.

Away from the showers there should be a good deal of sunshine, which is likely to be more than the seasonal average.

Monday 13 July 2009 to Sunday 26 July 2009

“Warm and showery.”

High pressure, centred over the Azores will dominate. This will bring a west or south-westerly flow of air over the UK.

It will remain quite warm, with average or above average temperatures for the time of year for many. However, parts of central England may be a little bit cooler than the seasonal average.

With high pressure dominating, there will be a good deal of settled weather but there will still be some rain at times. However, this rainfall is likely to be occasional and patchy.

Rainfall amounts are expected to be around the seasonal average with average or above average amounts of sunshine for the time of year.

Will the barbequeues stay out during August? Find out next week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

Cooler with showers.

The UK spent much of last week in the grip of a heat wave. Temperatures were highest in southeast England where 31.8C (89.2F) was recorded at Wisley in Surrey.

The heat and humidity gave rise to a number of heavy thunderstorms, which triggered some localised flooding.

Later in the week fresher conditions began to make their way in from the west and by the end of the weekend all areas of the UK were feeling slightly cooler.

Conditions became more unsettled, with a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers.

Average temperatures for early July range from 18C to 20C and it looks as this week will be typical in this respect.

Monday 06 July 2009 to Sunday 12 July 2009

“Heavy showers to begin but becoming drier later.”

The week begins with low pressure centred over the UK. As a result there will be frequent, heavy and slow moving showers and thunderstorms giving torrential downpours in places.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the low will drift north-eastwards, which will mean the showers will also begin to clear away. More settled conditions will move in from the west.

This will be followed by a northerly airflow, which will result in much cooler conditions across the UK compared last week.

As a result, temperatures are expected to be close to the seasonal average.

Thursday and Friday are expected to be mainly dry across the UK. However, a weather front close to western fringes may give a little rain across these areas.

By the weekend conditions are expected to become more unsettled with further showers.

Monday 13 July 2009 to Sunday 19 July 2009

"Sunshine and showers."

We expect to see low pressure centred over Scandinavia and high pressure over the Azores, resulting in a westerly airflow over the UK.

This will generally result in average temperatures for the time of year for the whole country, as well as unsettled conditions with a mixture of sunshine and showers for all.

Strong summer sunshine could trigger fairly intense showers and thunderstorms. However due to the scattered nature of these showers, rainfall amounts will vary considerably across the country.

There will also be plenty of sunny intervals between the showers resulting in above-average sunshine amounts for the time of year across the country.

The average sunshine amount for July is around 174.3 hours.

Monday 20 July 2009 to Sunday 02 August 2009

“Little change.”

The mixture of sunshine and showers are expected to remain as we head towards August.

Temperatures may rise slightly but rainfall and sunshine amounts will remain around the seasonal average.

The average rainfall amount during July for the UK is 69.6mm.

Will there be more rain for the gardens during August? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

More heavy showers.

Last week saw areas of low pressure crossing the UK giving some rather unsettled weather conditions. There were plenty of showers with some very heavy downpours.

The middle of the week saw some drier and quieter weather for a time before the showers became more widespread once again towards the end of the week.

A band of heavy rain and strong winds then moved across the country late on Saturday.

Temperatures, which peaked around the low 20's Celsius for most of the week were considerably down on the previous week's values, although it did warm up a little at the weekend with 24.6C recorded in Greater London.

Overnight temperatures fell to below-average values for July, particularly in Highland Scotland where Tulloch Bridge recorded a low of just 1C in the early hours of Friday morning. The seasonal average overnight temperature for the area is around 9C.

Daytime averages across the UK in mid-July range from 19C to 23C and it looks as though this week will not stray too far from these values.

Monday 13 July 2009 to Sunday 19 July 2009

“Heavy showers.”

Low pressure remains the dominant force this week. We begin with the low situated just to the west of us but it will drift slowly eastwards across the UK to lie over Scandinavia by the weekend.

Generally the weather will remain unsettled with many showers, some of which will be heavy and slow moving with some hail and thunder possible.

It is also likely that there will be some bands of more persistent rain moving across us at times.

The downpours will be interspersed with some warm and sunny spells but it will feel cool in areas affected by showers, especially when combined with squally winds.

Exact day-to-day details are currently difficult to pin down as the heaviest downpours are likely to be quite localised and there will be areas that on some days see few, if any showers.

Monday 20 July 2009 to Sunday 26 July 2009

"Drier in the south."

Low pressure will remain close to Scandinavia this week resulting in a predominantly westerly airflow across the UK, bringing more unsettled conditions.

There are likely to be further showers but there are also signs that pressure will begin to build in the south that will result in a drier, more settled spell of weather here.

However, at this stage confidence for this week is still fairly low.

There will most likely be some good sunny spells again throughout the week but a significant rise in temperature is not expected.

Monday 27 July 2009 to Sunday 09 August 2009

“Drier and warmer.”

There is increasing confidence that this period will see a return to some warmer and more settled summer weather.

We expect the Azores high to build northwards and become more dominant. This will result in above-average levels of sunshine for the time of year and a rise in temperatures.

There is still a possibility of some further rainfall at times but it should be much drier than of late.

Will summer sunshine return for the middle of August? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

[Stuart]

St Swithin's Day was on 15th July and according to folklore, whatever weather we get on that day will remain with us for forty days.

The 15th was similar to what we have seen over the past few weeks - a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Whether or not you take heed of ancient lore, we do seem to be in for more of the same in the foreseeable future.

Thankfully, St Swithin's Day was not on Friday when many of us experienced unseasonably wet, windy and cool conditions.

An area of low pressure brought heavy rain and localised flooding, particularly in south-west and north-east England.

Loftus in Cleveland recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall total of 66.8mm.

Monday 20 July 2009 to Sunday 26 July 2009

“Scattered showers.”

Low pressure remains dominant this week. Much of the country will continue to see rather cool and breezy weather with a mixture of sunny spells and scattered, occasionally heavy showers.

On Tuesday, a set of weather fronts will cause persistent showers to move northwards across the UK. This will be accompanied by strengthening winds, particularly in the west of the country.

The rest of the week will once again see sunshine and showers.

Temperatures are expected to remain at around average values for July - a degree or so either side of 20C - although it will feel cool in any wind or rain.

Monday 27 July 2009 to Sunday 02 August 2009

"Showers continue."

Low pressure will remain close by or over northern Scotland for much of the week, maintaining the unsettled conditions.

All parts of the UK are likely to have a fairly cool and wet week although there is the possibility of more settled conditions in the south for a time.

Sunshine amounts look set to be rather disappointing for late July and at this stage there is no sign of any significant rise in temperatures.

Monday 03 August 2009 to Sunday 16 August 2009

“Drier and warmer.”

The cool and unsettled weather is expected to prevail across much of the UK as we move into August.

There is the possibility of some generally settled conditions returning towards the middle of the month as pressure begins to build across southern parts and we should see a corresponding rise in temperatures.

However, rainfall amounts are still likely to be around the seasonal average.

What will the end of the school summer holidays hold? Find out next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml