0:00:02 > 0:00:03What's your impression of the winter so far?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Well, nothing too extreme - we've had some frost,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09a bit of snow, but actually not much in the way of rainfall.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Following on from a dry autumn, winter so far has been pretty dry.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14The map is coloured brown,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17indicating below average rainfall through December and January,
0:00:17 > 0:00:20and February hasn't seen much in the way of rainfall either.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And it's something the Environment Agency and the Met Office
0:00:23 > 0:00:26are keeping a close eye on, because winter rainfall is very important
0:00:26 > 0:00:30when it comes to replenishing water supplies in time for the summer.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32So it's just one to watch.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35It's been so dry because we've had blocking areas of high pressure
0:00:35 > 0:00:37for much of the winter.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Over the next few days, though, we're going to see more of
0:00:39 > 0:00:42an Atlantic influence with low pressure systems
0:00:42 > 0:00:43coming in from the west.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47So there will be some rain through the next week or so,
0:00:47 > 0:00:50but no huge amounts at this stage anticipated.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54One such weather system pushing into south-western parts of England
0:00:54 > 0:00:57and Wales through the morning, some wet weather locally.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It'll stagger its way northwards and eastwards.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Fairly patchy in nature but the odd heavy burst around too.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05On either side of that there will be some dry weather.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06In actual fact,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08it'll brighten up quite nicely through the afternoon across
0:01:08 > 0:01:11some south-western parts of England, south-west Wales,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14as this weather system pushes up through parts of southern England,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16the Midlands, maybe the odd thundery bursts
0:01:16 > 0:01:19and up into parts of northern England as well.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Fair bit of cloud in association with that, of course,
0:01:21 > 0:01:22but it will be mild -
0:01:22 > 0:01:24temperatures up into double figures in a good few places.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Showery rain continuing to move its way northwards out of
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Northern Ireland, perhaps into south-west Scotland.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Some of the best of the sunshine on offer, actually,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33on Wednesday will be across the far north.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Milder than it has been.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Now, this little weather system clears out of the way but as
0:01:38 > 0:01:41a low pressure system trundles across the far north,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45this is where most of the action will be weather-wise on Thursday.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Some quite blustery winds circulating around that low
0:01:47 > 0:01:51and there will be some showers for Scotland, Northern Ireland,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54parts of northern England too. But a lot of dry weather further south.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Quite a quiet day across the south of the UK with light winds,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59and after a foggy start in one or two places
0:01:59 > 0:02:01it should be reasonably bright.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Now, as we head into the night for Friday
0:02:03 > 0:02:06a little ridge of high pressure topples across.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Reaches of high pressure bring dry weather.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12The catch is, could well be a foggy start to the day on Friday
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and that fog could linger into the day in some places before
0:02:15 > 0:02:18eventually it brightens up with some sunshine.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Some of the best of the sunshine actually on Friday will be
0:02:20 > 0:02:22across the eastern half of the UK.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Out west, the next weather system getting lined up,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27but I think it will take all day for it to arrive across the far west,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29with increasing wind and some rain turning up.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Again, in the sunshine further east, feeling pretty good.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Now, that weather system staggers across the country,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38but a pretty weak feature, as you can see - just patchy rain around.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Again, no great amounts, probably staying dry across the east
0:02:41 > 0:02:43and brightening up later on out west.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Then on Sunday the next weather system arrives off the Atlantic,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49so some wet weather turning up across Northern Ireland and
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Scotland through the day on a freshening breeze,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54whereas further south and east it should be drier and brighter.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57And again, double-figure temperatures.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Now, into next week the jet stream livens up a bit,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03so we are going to see some more active frontal systems coming
0:03:03 > 0:03:06in off the Atlantic, carried along by that strengthening jet stream.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Toppling down across the country,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10these weather systems will bring some rain,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14particularly to the more northern and western parts of the UK,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17whereas further south and east we won't see much in the way of rain.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20So that's the story through next week. Always driest across the east.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22There will be some wet weather further west.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Milder than recently - just briefly we'll see some chillier spells
0:03:25 > 0:03:27but nothing too extreme.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29We'll update you again tomorrow.