A chilly start to mid-May, but signs of warmer weather ahead.
Mid‑May has arrived with a distinctly cool feel across much of the UK. Northerly winds have dominated for some time, drawing in colder air and making days feel fresher than is typical for this point in spring.
While there are still a few unsettled days to come, there are growing signs that conditions will gradually change over the next 10 days, with temperatures rising closer to – and potentially above – average later next week.
The rest of this week
Through the rest of this week and into the weekend, northerly winds remain a key feature of our weather. These winds help to keep temperatures below average and, at times, emphasise the chill even when sunshine breaks through.
Thursday is expected to be another showery day for many areas. Some of the showers may be slow‑moving and could be heavy, with a risk of thunder and hail in places, giving them more of a wintry character than you might expect for May. Although daytime temperatures are not exceptionally low, the strength of the wind will make it feel noticeably colder.
During Thursday evening and overnight, showers will gradually ease. A brief ridge of high pressure will build in, bringing drier conditions to many western areas by Friday morning.
Clearer skies and lighter winds mean there remains a risk of frost over the coming nights and Friday morning is likely to see a fairly widespread frost across north western parts of the UK, with some rural areas further south also at risk.
Friday will bring a contrast across the country. Eastern areas are likely to stay cloudier and breezier, with cooler conditions continuing as low pressure lingers in the North Sea. Further west, the influence of high pressure should allow for more sunshine and fewer showers, offering a brighter end to the working week, even if it still feels on the cool side.
Feeling more like early spring over the next couple of days, as a northerly airflow keeps us in a notably cool airmass
This will bring below average temperatures along with brisk winds at times, all adding to the chill 🥶 pic.twitter.com/12SrNxP2rP— Met Office (@metoffice) May 13, 2026
Weekend outlook
High pressure is expected to hold on into the start of the weekend, making Saturday the driest and brightest day for many. After a cold start, lighter winds and some sunshine should make conditions feel more pleasant than earlier in the week. Maximum temperatures are likely to reach the mid‑teens in the southeast, still slightly below average but more comfortable than of late.
Later on Saturday, a few showers may develop across southern areas, but these are not expected to be particularly heavy. Overall, Saturday looks like the better day of the weekend.
By Saturday night into Sunday, a weather front will move eastwards across the UK. With light winds and slow movement, this front may produce more persistent rain on Sunday, particularly across southern and southeastern England. In places, heavier bursts of rain or showers could develop, so it may be a damp end to the weekend for some.
Elsewhere, particularly in parts of the west, southwest and northern areas, there should still be some drier intervals. However, temperatures will remain on the cool side, generally in the low teens.
Early next week
As we move into next week, a change in air mass becomes more apparent. Winds are expected to turn south‑westerly, allowing Atlantic air to return. This will help temperatures recover closer to the seasonal average after a prolonged cooler spell.
Monday and Tuesday may bring more unsettled weather, especially across western parts of the UK. Several weather fronts are likely to move in from the Atlantic, bringing spells of rain that could be persistent at times. Western areas such as parts of Wales, northwest England and western Scotland look most likely to see the highest rainfall totals over this period.
Further east and southeast, conditions are expected to be drier and brighter more often, with milder air helping temperatures feel noticeably more spring‑like.
READ MORE: Temperature versus ‘feels like’: why they are not always the same
Later next week
There is increasing confidence that high pressure will gradually build later next week, pushing wetter weather away and bringing more settled conditions to many areas. While there is still some uncertainty over its exact position, the overall signal points towards drier weather, lighter winds and more sunshine becoming more widespread from mid‑week onwards.
As winds ease and cloud cover reduces, temperatures are expected to continue rising. By mid to late next week, values should be around average for the time of year, with some areas potentially becoming warmer than average as we approach the bank holiday weekend.
By the bank-holiday weekend
Looking towards the end of the 10‑day period, there are signs that temperatures could climb further, particularly in southern parts of the UK. Under the influence of high pressure, daytime values could approach 20°C in places, with a few spots in the southeast possibly reaching into the low 20s if conditions align favourably.
The exact details will depend on where high pressure settles. If it centres over the UK, many areas would see dry, sunny and warm weather. If it sits slightly further east, eastern areas may turn cloudier and feel cooler at times, while western fringes could still see occasional unsettled spells.
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