Hi all,

I don’t know about you but I’m glad to get April out of the way. It will go down for a lack of sunshine but also for how wet it was in the first half of the month especially. You’d think it was colder-than-average but this was down to the cloudy and windy days and below average sunshine hours. Temperatures actually came out at around average.

Despite the poor temperatures, the sun is now gaining strength and is as strong as August, with the UV levels soon stepping up into the high category. So when we do have sunny days and you are out and about, take note, it does not have to be very warm or hot for you to get sunburnt.

Thursday: After a calmer day on Wednesday, Thursday will be a windy day once more. The north-easterly breeze will not be as cold as it normally is, as it is sourcing air from the warmer continent to the south-east. It will however, drag some cloud in from the east which will be slow to clear, but it should break and it should be a decent day with some warm sunny spells sheltered from the wind. There’s a chance that a few eastern areas could hang on to some stubborn cloud. In sheltered spots and the further west you are, we will likely reach 20°C. Max 19°C Min 11°C

Friday: After a dry start, cloud will increase from the south and we are expecting some pulses of rain to arrive which could be quite heavy and thundery. With the cloud and rain it will be cooler especially in the breeze. Max 16°C Min 10°C

Long Weekend: Could be worse. Sunday perhaps the best day. Staying on the warmish side.

Saturday: Likely to start off cloudy with a few showers or spots of rain/drizzle. Slowly, as we head into the afternoon, some brighter spells should drift up as cloud clears from south to north. Max 16°C Min 9°C

Sunday: Sunny spells are expected after early mist and cloud slowly lifts. A slight breeze into the afternoon but with more in the way of sunshine temperatures will lift a little and it will feel pleasant but some home-grown showers threaten for later. Max 17°C Min 10°C

Bank Holiday Monday: Some uncertainty this far out, but it looks like low pressure will begin to develop across the UK, albeit quite slack. This means relatively light winds and apart from the odd bright spell, we’re expected to grow some beefy slow-moving showers into the afternoon which could be thundery. Max 17°C Min 9°C

Outlook: Low pressure to take control of the weather then possibly drift away to the North Sea. Unfortunately, high pressure that was looking like it might build across the country, will only build out into the Atlantic, meaning we will be in a showery airflow with west to north-westerly winds and temperatures remaining around the same. So, in any drier spells with sunshine, pleasant enough but equally some showers.

Small hint that high pressure will drift in later in the week. No sign of any heatwave or “summer blast” as the media keeps reporting but if the high pressure builds then temperatures can slowly rise, day-on-day, but how high all depends on the direction of the wind.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks as ever for reading. I hope you find my weekly blogs useful.

Thanks,

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 1st of May 2024 at 4:55pm.

Images: Met Office, BBC Weather & http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

Busy this week so the blog will be short and sweet.

After more rain this week, and some autumnal weather on Monday, bringing strong winds, 20mm of rain, hail & thunder, the weather is slowly but surely becoming more settled and drier but it’s not a smooth passage. Rain is still in the forecast but the high pressure mentioned last week is coming to our shores to dominate for the weekend. As said on a few X posts, it’s not going to be days upon days of wall-to-wall sunshine nor is it going to be that warm. 

Before all that, tonight will be frosty. So gardeners beware.

Thursday: A cold and frosty start for those up early. Sunny spells won’t last too long though as cloud will thicken from the northwest as an area of low pressure topples over the top of the Atlantic high. So patchy rain for the afternoon and lasting into the evening. Temperatures below average. Max 10°C Min 7°C

Friday: A cold-front will have moved south so cooler air across the region and a steady northerly breeze. Bright spells on offer though and it is expected to be mostly dry. Max 10°C Min 3°C

Weekend: High pressure on top of the UK.

Saturday: The position of the high pressure is crucial and the way it is positioned this weekend means there will be colder air lurking to the east. So west is best in shelter for higher temperatures. Overall dry with sunny spells, cloudier in the east at times. Max 13°C Min 5°C

Sunday: It looks set to be cloudier than Saturday as we drag in a northeasterly airflow and with it stubborn areas of cloud. This will make it feel cool. Any brightness further west. Can’t rule out cloud thick enough for drizzle on the tops. Max 13°C Min 6°C

Outlook: It would only take the high to drift a little further east for temperatures to be 3 to 4 degrees higher. But, as we enter the working week it looks like the high will drift back west allowing the northerly wind to return bringing colder air again. That said, plenty of dry weather up to midweek then it becomes uncertain; mostly likely outcome is the high drifts away and unsettled showery conditions return.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks for reading as always.

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 17th April 2024 at 7:37pm

Images: http://www.metrocentre.com & http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

April has started as what seems to be the norm these days with yet more rain, unsettled conditions and named-storms. We have already had 98% of the average April rainfall in the first third of the month. It’s been relentless and we are still yet to see a dry day this month.

As I said last week, it’s got to end sometime. So are we on the cards for a beautiful May? At this stage looking to mid-month and just after, there isn’t any concrete signs of it settling down, apart from the chance of an area of high pressure building. We are getting the odd warmer day and when the sun’s out it does feel very pleasant indeed but the rain keeps coming.

Having the odd dry day here and there is not good enough. We need a prolonged dry spell and I mean at least 10 days or our gardens will continue to look like this.

Thursday: A very mild start with temperatures into double-figures. A morning of some bright or sunny spells and dry. Cloud tending to increase into the afternoon. We will have a warmer airflow, southwesterly, which will be gusty at times but it will lift the temperatures to the late-teens. So despite the breeze it will feel quite warm. Max 18°C Min 11°C

Friday: There might have been some rain overnight as a warm-front brings thicker cloud and this will leave a legacy of cloud which looks set to hang around for most of the day. Unfortunately it might be thick enough at times for some drizzle. Still mild and breezy but not as warm. Some bright spells are possible later in the day. Max 16°C Min 11°C

Weekend: Cooler and showery as low pressure moves in to dominate.

Saturday: It’s looking like a day of sunshine and showers. Some of the showers, mostly into the afternoon, will be blustery and possibly heavy with hail and thunder. Cooler air filtering in as the day wears on. Max 14°C Min 6°C

Sunday: Another day of sunshine and showers but hopefully the showers will become more scattered into the afternoon to allow more sunny spells to filter through. Feeling cool though, especially in the breeze. Max 11°C Min 5°C

Outlook: Cool or even feeling cold early next week with showers. Less cold as the week goes on but showers seem to remain, but, some models are showing settled weather later in the week. It’s over a week away so I’m not holding my breath.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday 10th April 2024 at 4:40pm

Images: BBC Weather, @lauraloo_1988 on X & http://www.wxcharts.com.

Hi all,

The warmest spell of this year is on the way but it won’t be all BBQs and sun loungers. In fact it’ll be very windy at times and of course more rain is in the forecast.

It’s going to be the second half of April at the earliest before we have any chance of seeing a settled, drier and sunnier spell of weather and currently there’s a sniff.

Surely we’re in for a summery May, right?

Thursday: It’ll be a mostly cloudy morning, and apart from some drizzle on the hills, it should be dry. Bright spells will break out around lunchtime and into the early afternoon which might trigger off an isolated shower. Temperatures will also pick up a little before rain arrives overnight which could be heavy at times. Max 13°C Min 8°C

Friday: Early rain will clear to a day of sunny spells and showers. The south-to-southwesterly wind will pick up becoming gusty and the showers will be heavy with a risk of hail and thunder. With this warm airflow temperatures will really pick up and it will feel pleasant in any sunshine, but it will be windy. Max 17°C Min 8°C

Weekend: Warm briefly but windy.

Saturday: Heavy rain overnight will have cleared away to the north. A deep area of low pressure to the west of Ireland will mean it will be a turbulent afternoon with very windy conditions and gusts to 45-50mph. Despite the wind, it will be warm and the warmest day of the year is likely. There will be sunny spells and a few showers which should be well-scattered and mainly to the west. Max 18°C Min 8°C

Sunday: A cold-front will have moved through so it will be slightly cooler on Sunday. But, it will be another windy day with sunny spells and showers. Some heavy with hail and thunder. Max 15°C Min 8°C

Outlook: Looking ahead, it looks set to remain unsettled for the week. Yes, there will be some sunny spells at times, but equally there will be showers or longer spells of rain in between. Temperatures remaining on the mild side, occasionally higher and into the mid-teens. It’s a long way off but there are some signs of high pressure taking control of our weather and delivering a decent dry spell which is much needed.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 3rd of April 2024 at 5:32pm

Images: http://www.wxcharts.com and Weather & Radar.

Hi all,

It’s time for April showers, albeit ahead of schedule. The rain is set to keep on coming, mostly via the form of showers. It won’t rain all of the time and there will be some brightness in between, so grab it when you can. Look out for some hail, amazing clouds and rainbows over the coming days and even listen out for some thunder as towering shower-clouds form. 

UV levels are now medium and there is certainly some warmth in that sun – when it decides to come out that is!

Thursday: An area of low pressure, named Storm Nelson (by the Spanish Met Service) will swing up from the southwest bringing an unsettled day with windy conditions, bright spells and frequent hefty showers, especially early on and later in the day. The showers could be thundery and with hail. Max 10°C Min 4°C

Good Friday: The showers will continue but they are expected to be a bit more scattered but still beefy and thundery, fuelled by the warmth from the sun. Bright spells in between and a little milder. Max 13°C Min 5°C

Long Weekend: Temperatures rising a notch and showers decaying as the low fills but will it be replaced by another?

Saturday: Sunshine and showers. Showers fewer and further between but still heavy if you catch one. Feeling pleasant in the increasing-in-strength sunshine. Max 14°C Min 6°C

Sunday: The low pressure will start to fill so showers should become isolated then fade. Some brightness. Lighter winds and feeling pleasant if you catch any sun. Mild. At this stage it looks like the best day of the holiday. Max 15°C Min 7°C

Bank Holiday Monday: It currently looks like a settled day but with heavy showers not too far away to our west and south-west. So, today’s forecast is likely to change. A little bit cooler with an easterly airflow. Max 13°C Min 6°C

Outlook: It looks like we will still have low pressure anchored to our south-west throwing up bands of showers or rain at times. Brighter and drier interludes in between. No sign of anything settled or a prolonged drier spell with warmer temperatures. Our environment needs a couple of drier weeks for sure.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings and for daily updates.

Thanks as always for stopping by to read my weekly blog and for your interactions on X. I hope you all have a lovely Easter.

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 27th March 2024 at 5:37pm.

Images: http://www.wxcharts.com & http://www.theweatheroutlook.com

Hi all,

The rain keeps coming and after a 7-day dry spell earlier in the month we’ve now had a 9-day wet spell of weather with approx. 1 1/2 inches of unwanted rain. Despite that, it has been mild to very mild but winds are set to turn to a colder direction as we bring March to a close.

Thursday: A better day than yesterday, with mostly cloudy skies, but the cloud will be thin enough at times to allow a few hazy sunny spells to come through. The last milder-than-average day to come this week. Chance of the odd light shower especially later. Max 13°C Min 8°C

Friday: A cold-front will have moved through and with it cloudy skies and some patchy rain. Skies should brighten and it will turn cooler with winds swinging to the northwest. Plenty of sunny spells on offer but convection in the Irish sea will feed in some showers as the day progresses which could be wintry on the hilltops. A much colder-feel especially in the gusty wind. Max 9°C Min 3°C

Weekend: Sunday looks best.

Saturday: A windy and cold day with frequent showers. These will be heavy at times with hail and thunder possible. Bright spells in between. Max 8°C Min 4°C

Sunday: Drier with any early showers becoming confined to the east of the Pennines. Some sunny spells breaking out and winds eventually easing. Still chilly. Max 10°C Min 4°C

Outlook: It’s favourable that it turns a little cooler for the final week of March with some chilly nights and showers, some beefy and thundery with hail by day. Temperatures returning to normal for the last couple of days, perhaps back close to the mid-teens before we enter April. No sign of anything significantly warm yet. I wonder if we’ll see the first 20°C of the year in April or May?

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued Wednesday the 20th of March 2024 at 5pm.
Images: http://www.tropicaltidbits.com, http://www.wxcharts.com & http://www.theweatheroutlook.com.

Hi all,

Our dry spell earlier this month was not long enough as we still have plenty of saturated ground to drain. We will see further spells of rain over the next 7-10 days but I can’t see a day with very high rainfall amounts, so hopefully with it being spread out it won’t cause too much further localised flooding.

Thursday: Cloudy with a spell of rain during the first half of the morning, then a drier slot but remaining mostly cloudy. Showery rain will return mid-afternoon with some gusty winds. Despite the wind it will feel very mild. Max 14°C Min 8°C

Friday: The odd bright spell but there will also be showers which could be quite heavy at times and thundery. As the afternoon progresses, the showers should ease away and winds will swing to the northwest and it will become cooler. Chilly overnight. A touch of ground-frost overnight cannot be ruled out. Max 10°C Min 3°C

Weekend: Further rain and milder again.

Saturday: A fresh start then most of Saturday doesn’t seem too bad, but from mid-afternoon, after a few bright spells during the morning, cloud will become thick enough and showery rain will arrive from the southwest, especially so into the evening. Not as windy as recent days. Milder overnight. Max 10°C Min 9°C

Sunday: A bit windier and milder and again another mostly cloudy day with showers at times. Max 13°C Min 7°C

Outlook: The first few days of next week, Monday to Wednesday, look to be mild with temperatures of around 13°C. With all that moisture, there’s still bound to be a few showers around. Once an area of low pressure clears, we will drag in some northerly winds for the second half of the week, meaning it will become cooler with temperatures dropping to around 9 or 10°C. Some chilly nights, but there’ll be some welcome sunshine around and the odd scattered shower.

A much colder spell in March with snow is not unusual but there is no sign of it happening this year. It would be nice to have a settled spell of weather again, after 8 dry days earlier this month, and with some warmth, but there is no sign of that either as we remain mixed and unsettled.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,

Jon

Forecast issued: Wednesday the 13th of March at 8:45pm.

Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

Finally, we’ve had a break from the relentless rain and unsettled conditions. This week, we’ve seen some pleasant sunshine as we entered the season, meteorological-speaking, of Spring. It’s felt quite warm in the sunshine and sheltered from the breeze and even lawns are being cut. But, although we’ve still had a few frosts, the main plus, has been drier days. But, will this theme continue, as low pressure threatens from our south.

Thursday: More cloud is expected compared to recent days and also the wind is likely to increase as the day wears on to become particularly gusty. Some bright spells around but a bit more of a disturbance in the atmosphere is likely to mean we see a few showers cropping up late-afternoon. Feeling cool in the wind. Max 10°C Min 4°C

Friday: Overcast to start then some sunny spells breaking out here and there. Notably windy with a gusty easterly, to 35mph at times. Feeling chilly in exposure to the wind. A dry day is expected and no frost overnight as cloud rolls in from the south-south-east. Max 9°C Min 4°C

Weekend: Cloudier. Risk of rain returning.

Saturday: A mostly cloudy and windy day with the cloud thick enough at times for some patchy rain or drizzle. Hopefully a bit drier later in the day. Max 10°C Min 6°C

Sunday: Cloudy with some rain or drizzle around in the morning which should ease away into the afternoon. Brightness looks limited. Again, windy taking the edge off the temperature. Max 9°C Min 5°C

Outlook: Western parts of the UK will become more unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain. These weather-fronts will try their best to move into the region but a battle could be on, as high pressure to the east/north-east holds firm. If this high holds out then we might not see much in the way of a lot of rain next week as the GIF below shows. Fingers crossed for another low rainfall total week. Temperatures around average though and no frosts expected. Any winter-like weather looks like it’s done with {famous last words}.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 6th of March 2024 at 6:34pm

Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

It’s been another wet week (now rained for 14 days consecutively) and the same can be said about February, which on average, is the 6th driest month of the year. It now has well-above the average rainfall. 158% to be precise. It’s been another poor month with a lack of sunshine and certainly not wintry apart from one snowfall event which was mostly confined to higher ground.

Thursday: A cold-front will come through before dawn bringing a squall-line of heavy rain and gusty winds. Also, it will bring a colder airmass. The rest of the day will have bright spells and some blustery showers will could be thundery and wintry on the tops. Feeling much colder than recently, especially in the breeze. Patchy ground-frost overnight. Max 8°C Min 2°C

Friday: Cloudy for the morning with some scattered showers. More in the way of bright spells as the day progresses, still with the odd shower. Drying up later with the skies clearing, leading to an overnight frost and ice. Max 9°C Min -1°C

Weekend: Drier than recently.

Saturday: A frosty start, and it looks like a promising day with sunny spells and drier than recently. I can’t rule out an isolated shower drifting in from the Irish Sea though. Lighter winds. Max 9°C Min 1°C

Sunday: There is a chance that a low pressure drifting across southern England reaches us. But, for now that’s not the most likely outcome. However, it will bring some high-cloud, so expect some hazy bright spells after a cold start. Hopefully a dry day but feeling cool with more in the way of a breeze compared to yesterday. Max 8°C Min 4°C

Outlook: A ridge of high pressure building in from the southwest means a couple of settled days to start the working week. Bright spells, a bit windy at times and dry. Temperatures around average but it seems we will have too much of a breeze and cloud-cover to lead to any frosts. After that, it looks set to turn unsettled once more.

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,

Jon

Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 21st of February 2024 at 6pm.

Hi all,

Two weeks left of meteorological winter and the remainder of it looks generally mild to very mild, but there are hints that it turns colder towards the end of the season and into the beginning of Spring.

Thursday: It’ll be a very mild day with moist southerly winds. The day will start cloudy with bits and pieces of rain here and there and some more organised rain around lunchtime. A drier slot then more rain into the evening. This weather-front is a cold front so overnight it will become a little bit cooler. Max 15°C Min 9°C

Friday: A cloudy start with a few showers, but it should improve a little bit into the afternoon with some bright spells, but I can’t rule out it remaining dry everywhere. Quite a brisk westerly wind and cooler than yesterday. Max 11°C Min 7°C

Weekend: More rain but hopefully most will come overnight.

Saturday: Generally cloudy with a few bright spells. The cloud will thicken further as the day progresses and rain is expected late in the day and overnight. Again, it will be very mild for the time of year and breezy. Max 13°C Min 9°C

Sunday: Sunday could well start with a bit of rain which will move away quite swiftly and then it should be a drier day with the odd bright spell and again another mild one. The cloud will thicken further as the day progresses and rain is expected late in the day. Temperatures down just a notch as winds swing more west-to-northwest later. Max 12°C Min 7°C

Outlook: We start the working week with mostly cloudy skies and a few batches of showers. A brief ridge of high pressure should allow for a day or a couple of days of drier weather midweek but then it looks to turn a little bit cooler and possibly even colder towards the end of the month with a risk of wintry showers. The colder end to February and start of March is not certain so look out for updates on X. I’m sure winter’s not done with us yet. 

Follow at @Chadweather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 14th of February 2024 at 4:40pm. 

Images: http://www.wxcharts.com, my Weather Station Data and the Weather&Radar app.