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Met Office daily weather: Fine and dry heading towards the weekend

The end of the week looks set to bring a spell of fine and settled weather as we move through mid-May, with forecasts showing warm sunshine and dry conditions for both Thursday and Friday.

Thursday will bring widespread sunshine and dry weather across much of the country. Early low cloud may linger in some North Sea coastal areas and parts of the Midlands, but this is expected to gradually thin and break. However, some coastal spots may remain cloudy for much of the day.

Temperatures will be above average in western areas, with highs reaching 23–24°C in western and southwestern Scotland and 22–23°C in parts of western England and Wales. In contrast, eastern regions will see near-normal temperatures, and it will feel noticeably cooler under persistent cloud cover along the North Sea coast. Breezy conditions are expected in the far east and southeast.

Overnight into Friday, most areas will remain dry with long clear spells. However, low cloud and patchy mist may redevelop in some eastern coastal areas and spread into parts of the Midlands. Temperatures will dip, with chilly conditions expected across the country. Rural areas in the north and west may experience grass frost and even isolated air frost, while northwest Scotland may see slightly milder conditions.

READ MORE: When will it rain next?

Outlook for Friday

Friday will start with areas of low cloud in the east, which should retreat back to the coast during the morning. While some eastern coastal areas may remain rather cloudy throughout the day, the rest of the UK can expect dry and sunny conditions.

Temperatures will rise again, with very warm or even hot conditions in the west. The east will see near-normal to warm temperatures, though it may feel rather cool along windward coasts. Winds will be light to moderate, with locally fresh breezes along eastern shores.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Alex Deakin, said: “Low cloud will seep inland for Thursday morning. It may take a while before it moves back to the coast and even then, it could clear away from some coasts. And again, where you've got the breeze from the sea, temperatures will struggle. But a bit of sunshine will make all the difference.

“By the time we get to Thursday, even where it's sunny all day, temperatures are only really going to get into the low 20s. So, it is turning a little bit cooler as we go through this week. Obviously, 20–21°C still feeling very pleasant in the afternoon sunshine.

“By the time we get to Friday, if anything, the high is rebuilding out to the northwest, so we may see some subtle changes in the wind direction, which may mean slightly different areas get that cloud moving in through the night.

“It may well be a bit of a drab start over parts of the Midlands and southeast England, but again, most places inland should see that mist and low cloud disappearing. But again, with that breeze coming in from the North Sea, got quite a cool feel here in the sunshine, temperatures getting up above average into the low 20s.”

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Sunny weather in a park