Expect to see Wimbledon’s roof in action
WILL the new dawn in our national life be mirrored by an equally dramatic change of fortunes in the weather? For those who have been drowning in the humidity across much of England, notably in the South East, the weekend will bring fresher, more blustery conditions with plenty of sunshine and decent temperatures today from 64F (18C) in Cardiff, 66F (19C) in Norwich and 72F (22C) in London.
The shift is down to a fluctuation in the jet stream, the trans-Atlantic air currents in the high atmosphere that shape our climate. It has been blowing in from the south-west over the UK, sucking in that wet-flannel weather from Europe, along with the accompanying thunderstorms. As the new week gets under way, however, the jet stream will switch to coming in from the west, bringing in its wake more unsettled conditions. The air will be crisper and there will be no more bolts of lightning.
Instead, there will be sunshine and showers in the south, which may cause a few delays at the Wimbledon tennis championships when they open their doors on Monday. Expect to see that roof closing over the centre court.
But in the breeze, with a punnet of strawberries in your hand, it will still feel pleasant at 72F (22C).
Further north, the west of Scotland has of late been heading in the opposite direction from the rest of us, experiencing a lengthy spell of dry weather while the rest of us have been subject to intermittent downpours. This is set to continue, only this time with the benefits reversed.
A low pressure system will bring rain, cloud and cooler conditions that will envelope Northern Ireland and could spread to the North West.