WEATHER WATCH

This month has seen high pressure to the southwest, so daytime sunshine has been more widespread, but with it came several sharp frosts at night. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland suffered its coldest May night on record. Pershore and Benson in the South also dipped to -3C.

Temperatures countrywide have stayed 2C down on average, but it has been very dry. Culdrose, Cornwall and Altnaharra in Sutherland have seen around 1.6in (40mm) of rain so far, but this is very much the exception. Into the weekend and rainbands are encroaching into Scotland, but for the bulk of the country it promises to be largely dry.

It is usual to see 25C in the second half of May and this is easily achievable in the coming week across the South East. To the west, rainbands could bring a useful soaking to England and Wales, but that’s still not guaranteed.