High pressure will be the dominant influence on the weather this weekend, bringing largely settled conditions across much of the UK.
For many, this will mean dry weather with good spells of sunshine and temperatures feeling warm, particularly away from exposed coasts. However, as is often the case under high pressure in spring, there are a few details that will affect how the weather feels from place to place.
While the overall picture remains dry and settled, the high pressure is being nudged on two sides as the weekend unfolds. A weakening weather front will approach from the southwest, while northerly breezes influence parts of the northeast. Neither feature is especially strong, but together they will introduce some local variations in cloud cover, temperature and how chilly it feels along some coasts.
A chilly and misty start in places on Saturday
Saturday will begin on a cool note for many, with some rural areas seeing a distinct chill first thing in the morning. Clear skies overnight will allow temperatures to drop, and there is a chance of some patchy frost in parts of eastern England and the East Midlands, with a few pockets also possible elsewhere.
Alongside the cold start, some mist and low cloud may form across eastern counties. In a few places it could look rather grey early on, especially where winds are light. However, as the morning progresses, this mist and low cloud should lift and clear fairly quickly inland as sunshine strengthens.
Further north and east, closer to North Sea coasts, low cloud may linger for longer, particularly where a gentle northerly breeze remains in place. This onshore flow will help keep temperatures lower here, reinforcing the cooler feel near the coast.
READ MORE: Deep Dive: High-pressure, dry air and meteor showers
Warm sunshine inland through Saturday afternoon
For much of the country, Saturday afternoon will be dry with plenty of sunshine. Inland areas, especially across central and western parts of the UK, will feel pleasantly warm. Temperatures are expected to rise well above the average for the time of year, with many places seeing highs three to five degrees above typical mid‑April values.
In contrast, northeastern coastal areas will feel noticeably cooler. The light to moderate northerly breeze will limit temperatures and add a slight chill, particularly along exposed stretches of coastline. Elsewhere, winds will generally be lighter than of late, especially in the southwest, helping temperatures to climb more readily where sunshine is longest‑lasting.
There is a small chance of increased cloud pushing into the far southwest at times, linked to the fading weather front. This may bring a few isolated showers to parts of Ireland, but the vast majority of the UK should stay dry.
Sunday: variable cloud but still largely dry
High pressure is expected to reassert itself on Saturday night and into Sunday. The exact position of the high will play an important role in determining wind direction, cloud cover and temperatures as the day unfolds.
Sunday may start off with cloudier skies across some eastern areas once again, with mist or low cloud returning overnight. As with Saturday, this should break up and clear during the morning for most inland locations, allowing sunny spells to develop.
Further northwest, there will be more cloud at times, particularly across parts of northern and western Scotland. Here, there is a chance of some light, showery rain, especially across the Northern Isles as winds change direction. Even so, rainfall amounts are expected to remain low.
High pressure isn't going anywhere any time soon!
— Met Office (@metoffice) April 23, 2026
Whilst this doesn't mean unbroken sunshine everyday, there's unlikely to be any widespread appreciable rain until at least early May - not good news for farmers and growers 🥀🌻 pic.twitter.com/NKHnNh49u4
Coastal contrasts and above-average warmth inland
Many coastal areas along the North Sea are likely to remain cooler on Sunday compared with Saturday, especially if onshore winds persist. Places such as East Anglia and parts of southeast England could see temperatures held back by sea breezes and lingering cloud.
Inland, however, it will remain relatively warm for the time of year. Across central and western areas, temperatures are expected to stay several degrees above average, despite perhaps a little more high cloud around at times. The overall impression will be of a dry, calm and bright spring day for many.
Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.