Rain For The North & West
It’s a frosty start across central and southern parts of England and Wales, with temperatures dipping as low as -7C earlier in Bournemouth along the normally temperate south coast. However, it’s set to turn much milder this week, with a distinct absence of frosts, as southwesterly winds blow in all the way from the Azores, so by Thursday we could see temperatures across central and southern areas reaching 16-17C and possibly even a record being broken. Thursday’s record looks a tough one to beat with 19.2C set in 1990 in March (Cambs) but Friday looks possible with 17.8C the current record set in 1921 in East Ham (London).As well as becoming mild this week, it will also become increasingly unsettled and already this morning we are seeing outbreaks of rain spreading in across Northern Ireland, Scotland and NW England. The rain will be heavy and persistent across western Scotland and NW England through much of today, with up to 25-40mm likely to fall and possibly in excess of this over higher ground – so a risk of some localised flooding possible. Patchy rain will also develop across eastern Scotland, east of the Pennines across NE England and into Wales through the morning and afternoon. Turning cloudy across The Midlands and East Anglia, with a few spots of rain later, after a bright start. Staying dry across southern England and after a sunny morning it will become increasingly cloudy through the afternoon, but perhaps staying bright with some sunny spells. Temperatures will reach 7-9C generally, perhaps 10C in the west. A brisk to strong southwesterly wind in the north and west.

Tonight, much milder than last night, with wet and windy conditions affecting the north and west, mainly dry but cloudy for eastern areas. So Tuesday will start off rather grey and cloudy. We will still have outbreaks of rain at times across northern and western areas, but eastern areas will remain mostly dry with some limited brightness, though even here we can’t rule out the odd spot of rain. Milder than today, with temperatures perhaps reaching 11-13C.

For the rest of the week, an Atlantic frontal system looks to push southeast bringing rain to all areas on Wednesday, though the rain heaviest across the north and west. Further cloud and rain for the north and northwest on Thursday and Friday, drier and brighter towards the south and east where it will become exceptionally mild.

Issued: Mon 20/02 08:43