Well as we come to the end of yet another year, I think it will be fun to see what people think the next year will bring. Post your predictions below. Here's mine:
January: A cold and wintry first half with some snow and a few notable frosts, followed by a milder and more Atlantic-dominated second half. Rainfall and temperatures near average with the two opposing halves. (CET: 4.4).
February: Beginning with a westerly-dominated regime in the opening few days before turning very anticyclonic and dry. Some cold nights and milder days, particularly towards the back end of the month as daylight increases. (CET: 4.9).
March: Quite a varied month. Starting out dry and settled before it turns to a showery westerly-type pattern during the middle third of the month. In the final third, the first warm push of the spring occurs, with the first 20°C day across much of the southern half of the UK. (CET: 7.3).
April: The high pressure that brought March's warmth pulls out into the mid-Atlantic, bringing in northerly winds and a dramatic end to the warmth. Some late frost and snow in the first week before a more typical April showers theme sets up. (CET: 8.6).
May: High pressure builds, bringing a generally warm, dry and sunny end to the spring. Perhaps the first Spanish plume tries to bring the first proper thunder event of the season later on? (CET: 13.3).
June: The first week sees a continuation of warm, dry and sunny weather. In the second week, high pressure pulls away slightly, bringing a more showery and mobile pattern for a time. The warm, settled conditions then return in the final week. (CET: 15.8).
July: A hot and dry first week, with high pressure over or just to the east of the UK. This ends with a thundery spell at the end of the first week, before things turn a bit cooler and more showery. The rest of the month sees alternating spells of cool and showery and warm and dry. Overall, a decent summer month. (CET: 17.5).
August: The month begins on a changeable note, before things turn hot and dry in the middle third of the month. Under a Spanish plume, it becomes notably hot (widely into the mid-30s) for a couple of days, before this breaks down with heavy thunderstorms. The final third is then very close-to-average for late summer. (CET: 17.3).
September: High pressure builds for most of the month, bringing a warm, dry and sunnier than average September. Only in the final week does it weaken and more unsettled conditions arrive. (CET: 15.9).
October: An Atlantic flow in the first week bringing near-average temperatures and rain/showers. In the second week, winds turn northerly for a time, making things feel noticeably fresh. The final two weeks then see a mix of mildness and coolness. (CET: 11.2).
November: The Atlantic becomes more energetic, bringing a wet and westerly-dominated month. The month also sees one or two named storms. (CET: 7.9).
December: A mild and unsettled start gives way to a more north-westerly flow in the second week. This brings frost and some snow to the northern half of the UK for a week or so before the second half then sees milder conditions return. (CET: 5.6).