ARE WE HEADING FOR A WARM SPRING?

AS Derbyshire publicans prepare to reopen their beer gardens from April 12, customers will be hoping for a return of last year’s stunning spring weather - but what do forecasters think we might have in store for then?

Last year locked-down Derbyshire was bathed in beautiful sunshine for most of the spring and, by April 12, the weather was warm and dry. And local forecasters say the long-term outlook does offer some positive signs of another sunny spring.

Derby-based weather watcher Robert Shaw said although it is too far away to predict April’s weather, the general trend nowadays is for a decent spring.

He said: “The outlook might be promising, as over the last decades, springs have become largely sunny, dry and warmer.

“We have high pressure set to become dominant from Friday onwards, so it’ll become dry and settled with sunny mild days but a touch of frost overnight. High pressure doesn’t usually shift quickly, so if this spring follows previous spring patterns then it’s more likely to be settled, sunny and dry.

“April showers appear to be a thing of the past now, as they come via northwesterly winds.

“But it’s way too soon to predict conditions for mid-April, other than to point to recent spring patterns.”

According to Mr Shaw, who posts reports on weather trends on his Facebook page The Actual Weather, four of the warmest daily spring temperature records have come in the last 10 years – in the last 130 we have on record.

Last May was also the driest on record, with last spring the second driest spring on record.

So, fingers crossed, we could have some pleasant weather for the reopening of many of our pubs. But, it is Britain. So keep a brolly to hand.