Weekend weather: A cold start, a wet north and a milder Sunday

Author: Met Office

It looks set to be a weekend of two very different halves, with a chilly and frosty start on Saturday giving way to a much more unsettled picture by Sunday.

While high pressure initially keeps conditions relatively settled across much of England and Wales, an area of low pressure approaching from the Atlantic will gradually bring more cloud, rain and stronger winds to many parts of the UK.

So, what can we expect over the coming days?

Saturday: A frosty start before conditions gradually change

Saturday will begin on a distinctly cold note for many, particularly across England and Wales, where temperatures will fall close to freezing overnight. With light winds and clearer skies, a widespread frost is likely in rural areas, with temperatures locally dropping to between -3°C and -4°C.

Further north, conditions will be slightly less cold than Friday morning, with more cloud and a noticeable breeze helping to keep temperatures a little higher.

The reason for this contrast lies in the weather pattern. High pressure remains firmly established over much of the UK, keeping conditions largely settled in the south. However, tighter isobars across northern areas indicate stronger winds, preventing temperatures from falling quite as sharply.

For much of England and Wales, Saturday morning will bring plenty of sunshine following the frosty start. However, cloudier skies are expected across north-west England and southern Scotland, where a few showers are possible. Western Scotland will also see more cloud and occasional showery rain.

Further north, a weather front will slowly move southwards across the Northern Isles and western Scotland, bringing a wet start to the day. Some heavier bursts of rain are likely here.

Northern Ireland may see a few early showers, although these should gradually clear, leaving many areas dry and bright through the afternoon.

Temperatures will remain on the cool side for much of the country. Central and eastern England are likely to reach around 6°C or 7°C, while southern areas could climb into double figures as winds gradually turn southerly, bringing in slightly milder air.

Saturday night: A clash between colder and milder air

Saturday night could bring an interesting change, particularly across Scotland.

As colder northerly air pushes southwards, it will meet the weather front and milder air further south. This clash could generate some wintry precipitation, with snow possible over the hills of northern Scotland.

There remains some uncertainty about how much snow could fall and how low snow levels might become. For a time, some lower-level areas could also see a little snow, so this is certainly something worth monitoring.

Rain will return to Northern Ireland at times, while most of England and Wales should remain largely dry during the evening.

However, temperatures will fall quickly across central and eastern England, where lighter winds and clearer skies will allow another chilly night to develop.

Sunday: A much more unsettled picture

By Sunday, the weather will look noticeably different.

The area of low pressure approaching from the Atlantic will edge closer to the UK, bringing weather fronts further inland. These will join forces with the front already affecting northern Scotland, meaning a wet start and persistent rain are likely in many northern areas.

Sunday morning will generally be milder than Saturday, with temperatures staying above freezing in many towns and cities. However, some eastern parts of England could still see pockets of frost where clearer skies persist overnight.

Scotland is likely to experience the wettest conditions, with persistent rain and further snow possible over higher ground. The risk of snow will depend on how the colder air interacts with the incoming weather fronts.

Rain will also spread across Northern Ireland and into parts of northern England, while bands of showers circulate around the area of low pressure.

Further south, the picture will be more mixed. Some eastern parts of England could remain largely dry and bright for much of the day, although elsewhere showers and spells of rain are likely.

There will also be a noticeable temperature contrast across the country. Southerly winds will bring much milder conditions to southern areas, where temperatures could climb into the teens by the end of Sunday.

Meanwhile, northern Scotland will remain exposed to colder northerly winds. Although conditions may become drier here later in the day, temperatures will also begin to fall, with the risk of further wintry showers over the hills.

A weekend of contrasts

Overall, this weekend promises plenty of variety in the weather. Saturday will begin with widespread frost and sunshine across much of England and Wales, while northern areas see more cloud and showers.

By Sunday, low pressure will bring a more unsettled picture, with rain, stronger winds and possible hill snow across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England.

The south, meanwhile, looks set to enjoy a much milder end to the weekend, with temperatures potentially reaching the mid-teens.

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Sunrise over a frosty field

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