Thursday 4th February 2016 – Sunday 7th February 2016

Hi all,

Two named-storms in a short period of time and even some snow showers last weekend confirms our weather remains in an unsettled state. As we enter the final meteorological winter month, I am still hopeful of some prolonged cold during mid-February and we can also always rely on March to bring us some wintry weather; so don’t put your sledges away yet.

Rain and milder conditions arrive once again on Thursday after recent cooler conditions. With this comes rain, initially heavy, but easing later on. Hill-drizzle may remain into the evening. Max 11°C.

milder thur

Max Temperatures for Thursday – back to double-figures

The flip-flop pattern continues into Friday as cooler air comes in from the north-west. This doesn’t look like arriving until later on into the late-evening, after a mainly cloudy day with some showery rain and hill-drizzle. Max 10°C.

cold front

A cold front will sink SE slowly on Friday bringing rain then cooler air

The weekend will be chilly and windy with showers at times and some cool nights. To be honest forecasting this weekend has been a bit of a headache with several what-if scenarios to deal with.

For Saturday, bright spells and some showers early on and it will feel colder than recently. Later on there is a good chance rain will spread in from the west and winds increase. Max 7°C.

Bright spells and showers on Sunday after early rain clears. If anything, maybe feeling a little cooler, especially in the fresh wind. Again, more general rain and wind later or overnight. Max 7°C.

Looking at early next week it seems to remain chilly with some showers, which could be wintry at times over the hills. The week looks breezy throughout and there is a good chance we will see some more windy weather later on; perhaps another named-storm?

named storm imogen

Another named-storm later next week – Storm Imogen?

 

colder

If the stormy weather comes off it could be followed by much colder Arctic air

 

January 2016 Stats

Av. Temp 5.3°C 
Max Temp 13.2°C (24th)
Min Temp -2.7°C (16th)
Wettest Day 13mm (27th)
Highest Gust 45mph (27th)
Rainfall 129.8mm
Rainy Days 26 

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter to catch all the latest weather updates for Manchester and its surrounding boroughs.

Thanks for reading,

Jon

Photos/Data: http://www.ukweatherforecast.co.uk

Forecast issued at 16:30 on Wednesday 3rd of February 2016

Thursday 28th January 2016 – Sunday 31st January 2016

Hi all,

It’s wet and wild whilst I write this blog. Not dissimilar to yesterday when ex-storm Jonas, which brought parts of the U.S. 2-3 feet of snow, rattled across the UK. This is a sure sign that the Jet Stream is back in charge of our weather, depressing news for proper cold- and snow-lovers.

The next few days sees an up-and-down trend in temperatures across the region as we swing from one side of the Jet Stream to the other.

powerful jet

A powerful Jet Stream still controlling our weather

After a mostly wet, windy and mild Wednesday we sit on the cold side of the Jet Stream on Thursday. A cold start with a rural frost; so perhaps some deicing before work for some. Feeling much colder with sunny spells but cloud increases during the day with some rain or showers expected into the afternoon, some heavy. Winds will again increase; gale-force gusts overnight. Cold during daylight hours but temperatures rising again into the evening. Max 8°C.

Again it is milder into Friday but it will not feel so with very windy conditions. Gusts to 55mph in exposed places is likely, especially so during the morning. Showers at times on the westerly wind and more general rain overnight. Max 12°C.

I did say a few days ago that we won’t see any more snow in January. Saturday will be cold enough for some wintry showers so we could see some hail and possibly some sleet or snow showers in areas above 350M. Not exactly a major snow-event but a reminder that it’s winter and enough for the Met Office to issue a warning for further north. Max 5°C.

wintry showers on sat net

Wintry showers with some snow to higher ground is possible on Saturday

snow warning

Warning for snow and ice issued for Cumbria showing winter is still close by

Overnight into Sunday and it looks like rain will return from the south-west and with it milder temperatures once more. Certainly weather that can’t make its mind up. Max 11°C.

mild temps from the SW on Sun

After a colder Saturday; milder air returns from the south-west during Sunday

Looking ahead and next week could start with more gales on Monday. After that, sunshine and showers with tempertures back down into single-figures. I’m still going for a chance of some decent cold and bitter temperatures from mid-February. As always, no-one knows and this is just my hunch.

more gales on Monday

Next week starts with more gale-force gusts

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter to catch all the latest weather updates for Manchester and its surrounding boroughs.

Photos/Data: http://www.ukweatherforecast.co.uk, http://www.metoffice.gov.uk and netweather.tv.

Thanks for reading,

Jon

Forecast issued at 14:00 on Wednesday 27th January 2016

Thursday 21st January 2016 – Sunday 24th January 2016

Hi all,

Last week’s blog stated that last weekend would be dry and sunny with severe frosts as high pressure took hold. High pressure did arrive but only briefly and the forecast was shaken up, because from Friday, a system developed to our north-west. This came south-eastwards on Saturday and brought a spell of snow for most with 4-6cms of lying snow reported. Now don’t get me wrong, I like to get a forecast bob-on but it’s very welcome to spoil my plans if it delivers some snow.

A cold and frosty start to Thursday, with some isolated freezing fog patches. Cloud soon spreads in from the west with a freshening breeze later in the day. Some rain will develop into the afternoon or evening. Slowly milder. Max 5°C.

Milder air pushing out the colder air

Milder air pushing out the cold air that we have been experiencing recently

Overnight on Thursday the winds increase with heavy rain spreading from the west. So I’m expecting Friday to be a wet and breezy during the morning with the afternoon turning a little drier with the odd shower. The big change will be the temperature. With the rain comes milder south-westerly winds and by the end of the day some areas will be close to double-figures. Max 10°C.

friday rain

Heavy rain expected during Friday morning

Saturday looks the better day of the weekend with a dry day expected with some pleasant sunny spells. Mild. Max 10°C.

More cloud is likely into Sunday with bright spells limited. Some rain possible and temperatures remain on the mild to very mild side just like we were in December. Not winter-like at all. Max 12°C.

Sunday's temps

The UK under the influence of a very mild airmass by Sunday

Looking ahead and it remains mild with temperatures above average with no sign of snow returning.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter to catch all the latest weather updates for Manchester and its surrounding boroughs.

Photos/Data: http://www.ukweatherforecast.co.uk

Thanks for reading,

Jon

Forecast issued at 14:00 on Wednesday 20th January 2016

Thursday 14th January 2016 – Sunday 17th January 2016

Hi all,

So at last, it feels like winter; well January at least. To me it’s not winter until we see some snow and hard frosts. So, snow, where is it, and can we expect some? A tough question to answer as we hover close to “cold-enough-to-snow-temperatures”. It has turned colder this week and some of the tops have seen a covering of snow, albeit slushy and temporary but most of our showers have continued as rain.

As promised the Jet Stream slipped south allowing colder air to feed in from the north. This will remain the case for another 5-7 days. It turns colder at the back end of this week, so the chances of seeing some snow increases and the areas it could fall in, may include lower areas, rather than just the locations above 300M.

Wednesday night sees showery rain come in from the west and as this bumps into the cold air we could see some snow especially above 300M. Therefore, Thursday will start with some rain, sleet and snow. As this moves away colder air digs in and any rain could turn to snow for a time before brighter skies and the odd wintry shower feed in. Risk of snow showers overnight, even to lower levels. Max 4°C.

Thu am snow risk

Snow risk Wednesday night into Thursday

Friday will be a day of wintry showers and bright spells. Some of these showers will be of hail and snow. Again most of any snow will be for higher ground but not exclusively. Feeling raw in a bitter wind. In fact, Thursday and Friday will have a sub-zero wind-chill. Frosty and icy night ahead as showers fade. Max 4°C.

thu and fri windchill

Bitter on Thursday and Friday with a sub-zero wind-chill

The weekend promises to be a largely dry affair as high pressure builds over the UK. This means plenty of sunshine but very cold nights with a risk of fog and widespread sharp frosts.

Saturday and Sunday look very similar. Cold frosty mornings and nights with sunny spells during the day. There could be some freezing fog slow to clear and where it lingers on, the daytime maximum temperature will not rise above zero. Staying cold throughout with night-time temperatures even as low as -8°C especially in rural spots. Daytime Maxes 3°C.

frosts

Sharp frosts this weekend

 

high pressure weekend

High pressure over the weekend

Looking ahead and it will remain cold to start next week but it then looks likely that milder air will return from the southwest bringing rain which might be preceded by snow for a time.

milder airflow to return

Milder air looks likely to return from midweek next week

 

milder temps

Perhaps temperatures will return to double-figures?

 

It is tricky to pinpoint snowfalls, especially when temperatures are 50/50 for snow to occur. My advice would be to keep a watch on my tweets this week for the very latest on the snow-risk.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter to catch all the latest weather updates for Manchester and its surrounding boroughs.

Photos/Data: http://www.ukweatherforecast.co.uk and http://www.netweather.tv

Thanks for reading,

Jon

Forecast issued at 14:00 on Tuesday 12th January 2016

Thursday 7th January 2016 – Sunday 10th January 2016

Hi all,

Happy New Year and all the best for 2016! Hopefully an interesting weather year ahead. I’m only asking for heavy snow, storms and a heatwave; shouldn’t be a problem!

After recent flooding across different parts of the UK, the weather pattern is going to change. As mentioned in the last blog, the majority of the Jet Stream is shifting south. This will allow colder air to filter down from the north and northwest. This will be more noticable into next week.

Jet Stream

Wed 13th Jan – Predicted position of the Jet Stream

You probably heard heavy rain overnight on Wednesday and this will be slow to clear on Thursday. After a wet morning it will gradually turn drier and a much better afternoon lies ahead with sunny spells. Breezy with a chance of isolated showers later. Max 7°C.

Still unsettled into Friday. Any dry start will be replaced by a band of showery rain moving from west to east. Drier into the evening and with clear spells overnight, a slight frost and some ice to watch out for. A cold day. Max 6°C.

low pressure

Low pressure in charge of the weekend’s weather

Saturday starts chilly and mainly dry. Cloud will soon thicken from the southwest with rain expected to spread across all parts leading to a wet day. Becoming breezy and feeling cold. Max 6°C.

Turning a little colder as we go through Sunday. Some rain around which might be a bit sleety over the hills. Drier later. A cold night ahead with a touch of frost possible. Max 5°C.

Looking ahead into next week and it’s looking more like it, for the cold-lovers out there, especially from midweek. Overnight frosts widespread and although it will be much drier than recent weeks we could start to see some wintry showers, so hail, sleet and some snow could be on the cards.

frosts

Widespread frosts into next week

Northerly airflow brings cold air down across the UK.

December 2015 Stats

Av. Temp 8.9°C 
Max Temp 14.4°C (19th)
Min Temp 0.8°C (13th)
Wettest Day 43mm (26th)
Highest Gust 46mph (5th)
Rainfall 197.8mm
Rainy Days 29 

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter to catch all the latest weather updates for Manchester and its surrounding boroughs.

Thanks for reading,

Jon

Thursday 31st December 2015 – Sunday 3rd January 2016

Hi,

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and I’d like to wish you all, the best of wishes for 2016!

What a week it’s has been. The Boxing Day floods, the continuation of crazy well-above-average mild temperatures and then a brief flirt with #StormFrank. Here’s what to expect as we see out 2015 and welcome in the New Year.

New Year’s Eve (Thursday) will have some early showers around. These move away to introduce some brief bright spells. More showers into the afternoon with some gusty winds. Feeling colder especially in the breeze and some thunder or hail in the showers can’t be ruled out. If you’re out later on celebrating, it should be drier and in fact quite cold with some ice or frost forming during the night. Max 7°C.

Cold Start to Jan 1st

A cold and possibly icy/frosty start to January the 1st

After a cold start it looks set fair on Friday as 2016 arrives. Plenty of dry weather around during the day with bright spells and feeling much more seasonal. Winds picking up later in the day and overnight. Cold. Max 5°C.

It will feel quite chilly on Saturday with a keen southeasterly wind. It should start dry but cloudy and bands of rain are expected into the afternoon. Max 8°C.

A similar story into Sunday. Cloudy with some rain around early on. This clears and we’ll hopefully see a drier slot before another low pressure to our southwest brings a risk of rain into the evening. Its track is still uncertain so we could escape with a dry afternoon/evening. Still a fresh breeze taking a little edge off the temperatures. Max 8°C.

Jet Stream Tracks South

Jet Stream slips just that bit further South next week

Looking ahead into next week and the Jet Stream tracks slightly further south so it shouldn’t be as wild or as mild but still some rain or showers around. Cool too, so all-in-all a more typical feel to our weather.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for all your weather updates for Manchester and its surrounding boroughs.

Thanks for reading,

Jon

Thursday 24th December 2015 – Sunday 27th December 2015

Hi all,

Firstly, I’d like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2016. Have a good one folks.

Now unfortunately it isn’t going to be a White Christmas as December keeps up the wet and mild theme. However, there is the possibly of some stormy weather on the way before the year is out.

It will start wet and windy on Christmas Eve as rain sweeps through from the tail-end of Storm Eva. It will be followed on by sunshine and some showers. Cooler as the day progresses.  Max 9°C.

Christmas Day will start chilly across the region with the possibility of a local ground frost. Cloud will thicken and rain will arrive during the day to give a wet afternoon and turning much milder into the evening. Max 11°C.

All eyes on Boxing Day as a band of rain could become stagnant across the northwest. It will be mild and breezy but there is concern that the rain could be persistent and heavy and introduce localised flooding but there is a chance it could linger away further north than our location. One to watch. Max 11°C.

Boxing_Day_Rain

Boxing Day rain-risk

The rain should slowly ease away on Sunday leaving a cloudy day but drier with the mild conditions continuing under southerly winds. Max 12°C.

Looking ahead to next week and there is a chance of some stormy weather after a few more mild and breezy days. The GFS computer model has an intense storm for the 30th of December which would certainly cause issues. Looking further ahead and obviously open to change, there is another storm looming on the GFS for the first day of 2016 and it is a whopper! As you know predicting this far ahead is daft, as it changes so often, but I am getting this feeling that we are in for a notable storm within the next 10 days. Hang on to your hats!

30_storm

Possible storm on the 30th?


01_storm

Even stronger storm to welcome in 2016?

To keep up to date with all your local weather then follow @ChadWeather on Twitter.

Enjoy the festive break.

Jon

Thursday 17th December 2015 – Sunday 20th December 2015

Hi all,

You’d be forgiven for thinking it was spring outside today as temperatures are very much on the mild side with 14°C in some spots. The mild theme looks set to continue before we do cool slightly towards Christmas. Cool yes, but not enough for a White Christmas.

Looking at the latest Christmas Day forecast all I’m seeing is mild with temperatures above average, max 11°C, rain possible, all blown in on a moist south to southwesterly wind. Grim reading for cold-lovers wishing for a snowy 25th of December. So the next 4 days…..

XmasDayTemp

Thursday will be generally cloudy with some rain spreading across the region during the day on a steady breeze. Slightly drier later on and another very mild day. Max 12°C.

We will have more weather fronts coming in from the west and southwest during Friday and Saturday. Both days will have plenty of cloud, mild with rain at times but unlikely to be as persitent or as heavy as we had last Saturday which caused localised flooding and the postponement of Oldham Athletic’s home game. Friday sees our best chance of some brightness until rain arrives. Saturday will be the mildest day, or should I say warmest, and temperatures [night-time] could be December record-breaking across some parts of the UK. Friday; Max 12°C but we could see 15°C in some favoured spots on Saturday.

Sunday sees early rain clearing to showers and even some bright spells later on. Turning fresher and cooler once the rain clears away. Max 11°C.

Next week sees the overall mild, wet, unsettled theme continue. No sign of significant cold or snow.

For all your weather updates local to Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Manchester and Lancashire follow @ChadWeather on Twitter.

See you next week for a Christmas and New Year update.

Thanks for reading,

Jon