Temperatures set to rise by the weekend
AFTER what has felt like weeks of rain and cold weather, high pressure looks set to build, potentially bringing highs of 22C to Cardiff this weekend.
BBC Wales forecaster Sue Charles has said there will be a “taste of summer for mid May”, which is welcome news after one of the wettest springs on record.
The average for rainfall in Wales in March, April and May is 278mm, but the two months of spring this year have already seen 294mm.
The Met Office forecast for tomorrow to Friday says: “High pressure dominates the weather this week bringing settled conditions and lots of dry weather. Plenty of warm sunshine and light winds. Mild overnight with some fog possible.”
As for the weekend, the Met Office says there is a “strong signal” for high pressure across the UK at the start of this period, bringing a “good deal of fine and dry weather for most areas”, though with patchy mist and fog in places each morning.
The forecast for Wales shows highs of 22C in Cardiff, 20C in Cardigan and 19C in Swansea on Saturday.
BBC Wales forecaster Derek Brockway says: “After Monday, high pressure will bring us a drier, more settled spell lasting into next weekend. Becoming warmer and sunnier later in the week. Temperatures rising to 21C in places.”
Forecaster Chris Fawkes said on Countryfile: “High pressure will start to build in from the west on Tuesday. It is not the strongest area of high of pressure that you have ever seen and there will still be showers but they will be further in between.
“It continues to build on its high pressure on Wednesday so there will be dry weather and some sunny spells in Wales. When the sunshine comes out it will start to get warmer with temperatures climbing into the high teens and low twenties.
“That warming trend will continue on Thursday with a fine looking weather picture.”
Looking to the weekend, he said: “High pressure re-establishes so the weather will be largely fine and dry with some sunshine and it will feel warm in that sunshine with temperatures climbing widely into the high teens and low 20s.
“We start off the week with lots of showers, but gradually the weather looks set to get more settled and a bit warmer as well.”
However, Derek Brockway says: “The following week will probably turn cooler and more unsettled again.”
The Met Office’s long-range UK forecast for May 10 to 19 says: “The high is likely to maintain its influence into the weekend before starting to weaken during the following week. So a continuation of largely fine weather seems likely for most through the first few days, before a return of less settled conditions during the week.”