22/01/2017 Weather for the Week Ahead

Hello, it's proving to be a weekend of huge variety

up and down the UK. Though with one common denominator,

as we'll see in a moment. I'll show you what I mean

with the help of some weather-watcher pictures actually.

Some hard, hard frosts around, temperatures well below freezing

in some places overnight. For others we've seen

a whole lot of sunshine by day - this beautiful shot taken

from Cumbria on Saturday. There have been some areas of mist

and thicker fog patches persisting all day in some places,

this shot taken from the Central Belt of Scotland.

And for others it's stayed disappointingly gloomy

for much of the time, as we've seen here in mid-Wales.

But for all of us the common theme is - it's cold out there.

Now there is milder air lying in wait out in the Atlantic,

the big question mark is - how quickly will it get to our shores?

As the milder air arrives we'll see these weather fronts

delivering some wind and some and rain. Actually, a few showers,

even on Sunday, across the more northern and western areas.

No great amount but there's snow coming out of some of those showers,

especially up over the high ground but for many places

it will stay dry and there'll be plenty of sunshine

across the more southern and eastern parts of England in particular.

Here's a snapshot - three o'clock in the afternoon.

Lovely afternoon if you wear a few layers.

Might make eight degrees along the south coast but for most of us

four or five is the best I can offer you briefly,

through the early to mid part of the afternoon.

There's that cloud further north and west. The odd shower,

maybe a flake or two of snow up over the Pennines

and parts of southern Scotland too. Some breaks in the cloud, though,

for Northern Ireland and most of Scotland will be dry,

though we could see some of those fog patches lingering

well on through the day.

Talking of fog, that's going to become more of an issue through

Sunday night and into Monday morning, particularly

across the southern half of the UK, some really thick patches around.

Not just on Monday, but on Tuesday as well. On Tuesday

it could be even more of a problem. I'm expecting some disruption,

particularly through England and Wales, so watch out for

warnings, they could well be issued over the next few hours.

Now, once the fog has cleared, and it might not in some places,

there will be some brightness around but it will be chilly.

Further north and west, for Northern Ireland and Scotland,

more breeze here. Milder weather beginning to come in

off the Atlantic. The milder air also bringing more moisture

and the prospect of some rain at some stage later on in the week.

But again, on Wednesday many places will be dry.

Some rain across Western Scotland but elsewhere dry.

The lightest of the winds across these more southern and

eastern areas but that chilly air holding on.

Now, through the second half of this week,

these fronts begin to push their way eastwards

but boy it's going to be a struggle. Which does mean there's

a big question mark about how quickly those fronts arrive from

the west and how quickly the milder air arrives as well.

So, I've put later in the week, rather than being specific about

Thursday or Friday. But the idea is that those fronts are staggering

from the east. The wind will pick up so that will tend to clear the

fog away but still a lot of dry weather across these more

central and eastern areas in particular,

that chilly air holding on.

But I think as we hit the weekend, and indeed beyond,

a strengthening jet stream should push those fronts through

and then we're into a sort of different regime as we end

the month.

Quite a powerful jet stream, particularly across the more

northern parts of the UK and this will be the focus for where the

rain-bearing weather systems will be. So to sum up the end of the

month, it will turn milder with winds off the Atlantic.

Wettest across the more northern and western areas,

where there will be a strong wind. Always driest the further south

and east we go. That's it, I'll update you again tomorrow.

I've lost weight, in't I? Aye, you're looking good.

I'm the Night Owl.

I'd wear this for pyjamas in my bed.