School’s out but sun will go into hiding this Easter
AS soon as the school holidays loom, any good weather that has been around usually makes itself scarce, and this Easter will be no exception.
While the current dry conditions that have brought spring sunshine and startling bursts of warmth – up to 66F (19C) in Braemar in the Highlands – will continue well into next week, the end-of-term bell is set to signal more changeable conditions.
What has been keeping everything so settled of late is high pressure over the UK, but it is now slowly drifting away to the South and West.
That will mean increasing cloud and less sunshine, slightly cooler temperatures than in the past seven days, and more breezy conditions especially in the South and South East. Those who suffer from asthma or other breathing conditions are warned to expect a build-up of smog carried on winds from the near continent.
As the week progresses, the subtle retreat of the high pressure system will allow in weather fronts from the North and West, bringing rain first to Scotland – with highs of 44-50F (7-10C) – and from Wednesday onwards to the rest of the UK. The best of any remaining sunshine will be found on the east coast.
It is not all doom and gloom for Easter – especially when you recall that until recently forecasters were dropping dark hints about a blanket of snow to bury the chicks and bunnies.
Current predictions are for a mix of rain, sun and slightly below average temperatures, moderation for which we should, perhaps, be thankful. Nasa has just announced that last month set global temperature records, up by 2.4F (0.86C) on the 30-year norm, a bigger gap than for any month on record.