Rain to come in waves, but sun to smile on lovers
FEBRUARY is usually the coldest month in the UK especially in coastal areas, but thus far it has treated us relatively gently, with cold snaps alternating with milder air in unsettled conditions. And that pattern will continue to play out this coming week, relieving at least some of the anxiety about keeping our homes warm.
This morning, the last remnants of the weather front that brought wet and windy weather to much of the rest of the country yesterday will hang around in the South East. But as it departs these shores, another area of low pressure will be heading into the South West off the Atlantic. It will bring more rain and some strong gusts as it works its way eastwards.
There is, however, warmer air mixed into this low-pressure system so temperatures will be around or even above average for the time of year: 52F (11C) in Devon and Cornwall; 50F (10C) across south Wales and southern England; and 48F (9C) across the Midlands. Further north, the wind direction is from the north, so there will be a definite nip in the air to accompany the sunshine and showers, with the mercury in Scotland rising no higher than 46F (8C).
It will be windy generally across most of England and Wales overnight today, but once all that rain has passed, a ridge of high pressure will briefly build its way in to bring sunshine on Valentine’s Day.
But the next area of low pressure is queuing up in the Atlantic to make landfall.
And as the week progresses, that pattern of wet and windy conditions, interspersed with brief lulls, will continue. The temperatures, though, will remain on the whole pretty decent because of that milder air that hangs on in there, with England and Wales getting most of the benefit.