The uk weather forecast points to a sharp mix of conditions across the UK on Monday, with showers moving southward across parts of Scotland and England while other areas stay warm and dry. The uk weather forecast then turns brighter through midweek, with sunshine returning widely and temperatures rising toward 24C in the south later in the week. A more unsettled spell is expected by Friday and into the Bank Holiday weekend, with rain and showers becoming more likely.
Showers first, but not everywhere
Monday is starting warm for many, but showers are moving south across parts of Scotland and England, with some turning heavy. There is also a risk of the odd rumble of thunder, particularly across eastern Scotland and parts of central and southeast England. In southern England, a headline maximum of around 23C is possible, while some areas remain mostly dry with warm sunny spells.
Parts of the UK could see their first significant rain in several weeks as the showers spread, although the rain will be hit-and-miss. That means some places will get a useful top-up, while others will miss it entirely. In eastern England, some locations have received only 2% of their usual April rainfall so far, including Cambridge and Bedford, while Tiree has already had 171% of its typical April total.
Midweek sunshine returns in the uk weather forecast
Tuesday is expected to feel cooler for many, with cloud and patchy drizzle early on before sunny spells develop more widely. High pressure then brings a return to largely dry and fine weather from midweek, and the uk weather forecast shows plenty of sunshine on Wednesday and Thursday for many areas.
Temperatures will vary by region. Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to reach 17-19C on Tuesday, while many other places will be a little cooler than Monday. By Wednesday, temperatures should widely reach 16-21C, though some North Sea coasts may feel chilly in the easterly breeze. On Thursday, parts of England, Wales and Scotland could reach 20-22C as winds shift more southerly and warmer air spreads in.
Late-week warmth before heavier rain arrives
Later Thursday into Friday, conditions become more unsettled. Rain and showers are expected to spread from the south and west, and some of them could be heavy and possibly thundery. The warmest spell is likely in southern England, where temperatures could reach 24C on Friday, with warm and humid conditions ahead of the rain.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said conditions are expected to turn more unsettled by Friday, with rain and showers spreading in from the southwest. He added that details for the Bank Holiday weekend will become clearer closer to the time, but the outlook is for a changeable pattern with showers at times and sunnier intervals in between.
The broader picture is one of a dry start for some, a warmer and brighter middle of the week, and then a return to more changeable conditions. The uk weather forecast remains sensitive to small shifts in wind direction and timing, so the exact pattern for the weekend may still shift. For now, the uk weather forecast is clear on one point: the UK is set to move from showers to sunshine, then back toward rain before the Bank Holiday weekend.
