29/01/2018 Weather for the Week Ahead

Hello, there. We've had some very mild air across the British Isles

over the last couple of days -

in fact, you might go so far as to say

the weekend felt quite springlike in places,

particularly where you got to see

some Sunday sunshine.

That lifted temperatures

across parts of central and eastern England

very close to 15 degrees -

but that trend is not going to continue

into the week ahead.

The mild air that has been wafting up

across the country

is going to be replaced

by cold air from the north-west,

behind this cold front

sinking southwards and eastwards

as we start the new working week,

ahead of the frontal system, still mild

and pretty windy, as well,

so, a mild start

across the south of the country,

but then we see this band of heavy rain

sinking southwards and eastwards,

and behind that, we peel back the cloud -

yes, we brighten the skies,

but we drop the temperatures, as well.

Just 5 degrees in Aberdeen

through Monday afternoon,

and some showers

starting to pack into the north-west -

some heavy, thundery

and starting to turn wintry,

because that's the big theme through the week ahead.

It'll turn colder,

cold enough for wintry showers -

it'll often be windy, with gales at times.

Now, having said that,

the winds will be fairly light

as we move into the first part of Tuesday.

An area of high pressure just trying to exert

an influence on our weather.

Where you're closest to the high,

particularly for central and eastern areas of England,

there could be a touch of frost

on Tuesday morning.

Here, some good spells of sunshine -

but then a pincer movement of weather systems,

one into the south-west, one into the north-west,

bringing rain, and the winds

will start to strengthen, as well -

and here comes another cold front,

another band of rain,

and behind it a renewed push

of cold air from the north-west.

Now, on Wednesday,

yes, we'll see some spells of sunshine developing,

but we'll also see quite a few showers -

particularly over high ground in the north,

but, perhaps, to low levels across Scotland,

the showers will turn wintry,

because temperatures

will be only around 4 to 9 degrees,

and it could feel colder than that

given the strength of the wind.

Still windy on Thursday, gales in exposed spots,

particularly up to the north-east.

There should be fewer showers by this stage,

more in the way of dry weather - again, 5 to 8 degrees.

So, some cold air in place

as we head towards the end of the week.

We're likely to see quite a widespread frost

on Friday morning, and then, into that cold air,

we're going to bring a frontal system from the west,

bringing outbreaks of rain, yes,

but on its leading edge,

Northern Ireland, northern England, Scotland

could see some snow for a time.

Generally, though,

it looks like we'll end the week

with some slightly milder air

returning from the south-west.

Now, into next weekend,

we're likely to see further bands of rain

pushing across the country

accompanied, once again,

temporarily, by some slightly milder air -

but the tendency will always be

to get us back

into these north or north-westerly winds.

So, yes, while there might be

mild periods of weather,

there will also be

some pretty cold weather around, as well.

So, we can sum it up like this

for the weekend and beyond -

there will be spells of rain

interspersed by brighter periods

and some sunshine. Cold enough,

where we have those brighter periods,

to give some wintry showers

as those temperatures continue

to wobble upwards and downwards.

Now, there is just a chance,

as we look even further ahead,

that we might see high pressure

building down from Scandinavia,

blocking the weather patterns,

stopping the Atlantic weather system,

so, turning things less unsettled,

but bringing us an easterly wind -

and at this time of year,

that will still feel like winter.