Windy and wet but next weekend looks brighter
BONFIRE Night parties may happily have escaped the rain in many parts last night, but for today and much of the coming week the prevailing pattern will remain, with windy and wet conditions, and spells of sunshine mixed in. Only as we head into next weekend can we expect any sort of major change to something drier and, in November’s terms at least, warmer. Winter is not with us yet.
What is driving all this changeable weather is the remnants of Hurricane Martin. Its power spent on the other side of the Atlantic, it can still pack something of a punch, notably in those bands of rain and brisk southerly winds it has been firing our way in the past few days. And this morning will begin in western and southern parts of England and Wales with some bursts of heavy rain, though there will be sunshine to enjoy in its wake.
Scotland and Northern Ireland largely escape the deluge but they remain chillier, at 54F (12C). Any warmth in this lacklustre start to November will be focused around London, Cornwall and Devon, at 57F (14C).
Low pressure is still in control and shaping our weather, so more rain in the south and west of England; on our eastern seaboard it will be drier and brighter. Tuesday should see that lingering low pressure moving away northwards and, as the wind changes to a westerly, it should become drier and brighter.
On present projections, the Jet Stream, that ribbon of air currents in the high atmosphere that blows west to east across the Atlantic, is very volatile at the moment, with its fluctuations making it possible that next weekend may be warmer and brighter.
But generally it remains very changeable so make sure you take an umbrella just in case.*