Met Office Weather: A cloudy start with patchy rain

As we approach the end of April, the weather over the next 48 hours will bring a mix of conditions across the UK. From cloudy mornings and patchy rain to fresh winds and potentially heavy downpours.

Thursday, April 24, will begin with a dry but cloudy start for many regions. The best breaks in the cloud cover will be across the north and northwest, where a few fog patches may form early in the morning. These fog patches are expected to clear quickly. However, further south and southeast, there will be some patchy rain, drizzle, and hill fog, with the cloud taking most of the day to break up. By the evening, patchy rain may reach the western parts of Northern Ireland.

Temperatures on Thursday will be rather warm in the west and southwest, with the focus of higher temperatures across the north and west, where temperatures could reach up to 19°C. In contrast, the south and east will be cooler due to extensive cloud cover from Wednesday. Windward coasts may experience a chilly breeze.

Rain and fresh winds on Friday

Friday, April 25, will see rain and fresh winds across the far west, moving slowly and erratically eastwards throughout the day. However, the rain is not expected to make much progress eastwards. The rain could be locally heavy and prolonged, especially over south-facing high ground in the northwest. To the east of this rain, conditions will remain dry with light winds, hazy or milky sunshine, and small amounts of lower cloud. Any early coastal or upslope low cloud is expected to quickly retreat and break up.

Winds on Friday will be light to moderate, but locally fresh along the coasts in the west and northwest. Temperatures will be near normal to rather warm, following a chilly start in central and eastern areas. There is a small risk of gusts reaching gale force ahead of the frontal zone in the north, particularly where topographic effects allow.

Any overnight frost during this period is likely to be confined to upland or prone northern rural locations on Friday morning.

In his 14-day outlook, Alex Burkill Met Office presenter and meteorologist said: “It’s a quieter picture as we go into Thursday. There's (a low pressure) system that comes in from the west as we go into Friday. There are some question marks as to how far east it pushes across.

“I am expecting it to stay just a little bit further west and then weakening as it makes its way across. So, some rain in the west on Friday, not a lot.”

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