Spring vanishes as rain and wind dominate week
The poet laureate Simon Armitage celebrated the wonders of spring blossom this past week in a new collection of verse, where he likens it to a magician lighting up our towns and countryside.
Appreciate it while you can because a spell of colder weather is moving into the UK in the week ahead as March really doesn’t go out like a lamb but instead with blustery winds and heavy rain that risks depositing the delicate pink and white petals in a soggy heap on the pavement.
After a cold, windy, wet Saturday, today is the quieter half of this weekend. The low pressure that made yesterday so miserable for many is now heading towards Scandinavia. Its last remnant will be a brisk northerly wind whipping down the North Sea coast. But pushing in from the south-west is a ridge of high pressure that will settle things down, boost temperatures, and give the remaining blossom a bit of peace to work its spring magic.
But only a bit. Rain bands will start arriving in the South West as today progresses so get outdoors early this Palm Sunday. The mercury is pushing up a little to 52F (11C) across most parts, higher in south-eastern England and the central band of Scotland at 54F (12C), and down a notch in north-west England at 50F (10C), but still below average for this time of year.
More rain will travel up from the South across the country tomorrow, with sunshine trailing in its wake later in southern England. With the UK firmly on the north side of the Jet Stream, expect disappointing temperatures all the way through to Good Friday, with plenty of rain.
All change for Easter Weekend? Too soon yet to call.*