After a week in which the seasons may have appeared to be changing, summer weather is set to make a return this weekend.
High pressure will bring plenty of dry and sunny conditions, although a northerly airflow means temperatures will initially be lower than many people have become accustomed to this summer.
High pressure will build across the UK from the west during Friday, helping to clear away much of the recent unsettled weather. As a result, most places can expect a fine weekend, with long dry periods and some good spells of sunshine.
However, the position of the high will maintain a northerly wind across the country through Saturday and into Sunday. This will bring cooler air southwards, keeping temperatures below average in several areas despite the sunshine.
A fresh start to Saturday
Saturday will begin on a notably fresh note. Overnight temperatures are expected to fall into the mid-single figures across many rural locations, while towns and cities are likely to begin the day at around 10 or 11°C. This will be a marked change from some of the warm nights experienced during recent spells of hot weather.
Most places will have a bright or sunny start, with the morning likely to offer the best of the sunshine. Some cloud will develop as the day progresses, particularly in northern and eastern areas, but it will remain dry for the majority of the country. A few showers are possible across north-west Scotland.
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The northerly wind will be most noticeable along North Sea coasts, where it will bring more cloud and a stronger breeze. This could make conditions feel rather cool in exposed areas, even when the sun makes an appearance.
Temperatures will generally reach 16 or 17°C across northern parts of the UK. The highest values are likely near the far south coast, where 21 or possibly 22°C could be recorded. A sea breeze may develop along parts of the south coast later in the day, turning winds more southerly locally.
Eastern England will experience some of the largest departures from the seasonal average. Parts of East Anglia and north-east England could be around 5°C below average as the northerly wind continues to feed cooler air into these areas.
Bright again for many on Sunday
Saturday night will bring another fresh spell, followed by a sunny start to Sunday for many places. Conditions will remain settled across much of the UK, although a weather front approaching the north-west will introduce more cloud.
Northern Ireland and western and northern Scotland are therefore likely to have less sunshine during Sunday. A few showers are also possible, although these should be relatively light compared with the rain seen in some areas during the week.
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For much of England and Wales, Sunday will be dry and bright. The northerly airflow will ease across southern areas during the afternoon, allowing temperatures to rise slightly higher than on Saturday. Maximum temperatures of 22 or 23°C are possible in the south, which is close to average for the time of year.
Further north, temperatures will remain lower and there will be less sunshine. Even where cloud increases, it is expected to be fairly thin, so conditions should often retain a bright feel.
A change beyond the weekend
Overall, the weekend offers plenty of useful weather for outdoor plans, with most places staying dry and receiving some sunshine. Saturday will feel freshest, while southern areas should become somewhat warmer by Sunday afternoon.
The settled spell may not last far into next week. Low pressure is expected to approach from the south around Monday or Tuesday, signalling the possibility of a return to more unsettled conditions.
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.
