Weather and climate change

Headline:

Largely dry and sunny for many this week.

Today:

Patchy cloud and scattered showers will move west this morning, gradually fading away. Sunny spells developing and feeling warm in this afternoon. Turning breezy for many, with brisk winds along the south coast.

Tonight:

Low cloud will move into northeast tonight. Staying dry with clear spells elsewhere and a patchy rural frost. Windy in the southwest, particularly around the coast and Moors.

Wednesday:

Cloud will linger along northeast coasts on Wednesday. Plenty of sunshine for many and feeling warm. Hazy sunshine in the southwest with strong winds and perhaps the odd afternoon shower.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Largely settled this week with plenty of sunshine, and winds easing. Cloudy and cool at times along eastern coasts with an onshore breeze. Warming up in the south and west.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 21 Apr 2026

High pressure is likely to be centred close to or across the UK through much of this period, so many places will be largely dry with clear or sunny periods. Some showery rain may affect northern and western parts this weekend though. Colder air will also try to push into the country from the north this weekend but will probably only briefly make limited progress into the northeast, where it could bring a short-lived showery interlude, some of these wintry. Winds will be mostly light, but briefly stronger in the northeast as the colder air tries to come south. Temperatures will probably be near or slightly above normal for many, but with a risk of colder conditions affecting the north or more especially the northeast this weekend.

Updated: 13:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 20 Apr 2026

Slowly evolving weather patterns are probable through this period. Within this, high pressure is more likely than not to be located somewhere to the north or northwest with low pressure closer to southern and possibly eastern areas. The orientation of and proximity to the UK of each of these features will be key to regional weather on a day-to-day basis. However, on balance, northern and some western areas are likely be drier, with southern and possibly some eastern parts seeing more in the way of rain or showers. Overall, temperatures probably close to or a little above average, though scope for some cold nights with late season frost, especially in the north.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 20 Apr 2026