Archived articles which have appeared on our homepage since May 7th 2014.
[Updated 09:30 18/02/2018]
After quite a mild start to the week a change to colder weather is expected as winds turn to an easterly direction. By next weekend snow showers are likely in eastern Britain.
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Sunday begins overcast and misty in much of the country. This morning drizzly conditions affect parts of the south and more persistent outbreaks of rain push into Northern Ireland. Through the afternoon wet weather spreads into Scotland and western Britain but elsewhere it remains dry.
Temperatures range from 5C (41F) in the north to 8C (46F) in the south. See the rainfall and precipitation type radar for the latest view.
Tonight patchy spells of rain spread eastwards across much of the country. In Northern Ireland it becomes drier.
Tomorrow it stays damp in central and eastern counties. In the west it brightens up for a time but during the afternoon another band of light rain pushes into the north west of the UK. Temperatures will be close to the average in the east but the west has quite a mild day. Tuesday starts with similar conditions but by the afternoon the damp weather should be restricted to the south east.
Wednesday sees a change beginning to take place as high pressure builds northwards. That allows colder continental air to filter in to southern counties but it should be mostly dry with sunny spells.
Meteo France Arpege 00z,precipitation and surface pressure, 15:00 GMT Wed 21st Feb
By Thursday the risk of wintry showers increases in the east. Elsewhere it will be mostly dry and chilly.
Forecast details for the end of the week are beginning to firm up. It looks as though progressively colder air will move in from the east with nighttime frosts becoming widespread. There is a risk of snow, especially in southern and eastern areas but at this stage it's not possible to be more specific.
Into next week the uncertainty returns. Some computer model runs show a bitterly cold easterly flow continuing for quite a long period with heavy snow showers in the south and east. Others have milder air pushing up from the southwest quite quickly.
The GFS 00z operational run chart below shows forecast temperatures at about 1500m above sea level. Very cold air remains over the northern half of the UK but milder air is pushing up from the south west. That brings the potential for heavy rain, sleet and snow.
GFS 00z , 850hPa temperatures, 00:00 GMT Tue 27th Feb
The increasing influence of high pressure and the possibility of cold blocks of air pushing across Europe during the rest of February and the first half of March could be a result of the Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event that recently took place. That raises the risk of cold weather in the UK during the rest of February and the first half of March. However it is not assured because high pressure blocks could align in a way that leaves the UK under a mild south or southwesterly air mass.
Check the latest snow forecast charts:
Meteo France Arpege
DWD ICON
NCEP GFS
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A good deal of dry weather is shown in the short term. By the end of the month a big spread of solutions is on offer and it may turn very cold. View latest GEFS.
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