Much of the UK has had settled weather in recent days, with warmer air also moving in from the south and southwest.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly explained: “High pressure to the east of the UK is helping to draw warmer air north across the country, resulting in temperatures well above average for the time of year.

“Thursday is likely to see temperatures peak as part of this meteorological set-up, likely reaching around 20°C in some spots in the south. It’ll also be a widely sunny day for the UK, with just patchy fair-weather cloud in central areas of England at times.”

If temperatures reach 20°C on Thursday that would make it the warmest day of the year so far, though this is obviously very common occurrence as we move through meteorological spring.

Turning wetter for the weekend

While Friday will remain warm for many, the start of a transition to wetter weather is on the way for the weekend, with some rain, initially in parts of the southwest, moving gradually northeast later in the day.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates said: “While Friday will be another warm day for many, we start to see some wet weather arriving, initially in Cornwall but gradually moving to parts of Wales and central and southern England later in the day.

“This heralds the move to something more unsettled for the UK’s weather on Saturday, with more rain or showers developing for much England, Wales and Northern Ireland through the day, and some heavier bursts likely in places. Western parts of Scotland are also likely to see rain on Saturday, with this gradually moving eastwards across the rest of Scotland through the weekend.”

“Unsettled weather, with occasional rain or showers for many, will continue on Sunday, with plenty of cloud around as well.”

Watch Met Office 10-Day Trend on YouTube for an in-depth look at the outlook.

Further ahead

A rather changeable pattern is becoming established into next week, with some rain pushing east across the UK at times, but some drier interludes to be had as well.

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