UK weather forecasters: Washout with heavy rain ahead of sweltering weekend of 25C highs

A low pressure today will bring heavy rain and wind before temperatures rise over the weekend, which could be the hottest of the year so far with highs of 25C

Brits are braced for heavy rain and wind today ahead of the arrival of a North African cloud that will bring highs of 25C by the weekend.

It was a rainy day in some northern parts of the UK on Tuesday and more heavy showers are expected today along with winds blowing in from the Atlantic.

Low barometric pressure will mean rainy prospects for Wales, while rain will sweep across England during the day. At the same time, strong gusts of wind are expected in Scotland.

BBC weather forecaster Stav Danaos said: “For the next few days it will remain windy, rather choppy, low pressure nearby and we will see showers or even prolonged rainy spells.”

Pointing to an area of ​​low pressure on a weather map, he continued: “On Wednesday this feature could bring significant rainfall throughout the day to parts of England and Wales.

“Now some of this rain will be really quite heavy in parts of Wales and south west England by Wednesday morning and then this afternoon rain will push into the Midlands, parts of east England. I think the northern extent of that will be the Greater Manchester area no further north.

“But if that rainband starts to move south-east into East Anglia and south-east it will start to fragment. Another windy day coming with this band of rain particularly across southern Britain, fairly gusty also across the north and west of Scotland where we will see sunshine and showers.”

However, temperatures will gradually rise towards the weekend as a high pressure area moves in from North Africa.

With expected temperatures of up to 25C in the south, it would be the hottest time of the year so far.

On April 15, the warmest day to date, a maximum temperature of 23.4 °C was recorded in St. James’s Park in London.

BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said: “From Thursday to Friday the high pressure starts to build up so here’s the sunny, warmer, I won’t necessarily say better weather because we need the rain, but the warmer, sunnier weather is the best south from us we have this more unsettled weather again in the north with hints of rain in parts of western Scotland.

“But whichever way you look at it, it’s really starting to settle down by Friday, with sunny skies widespread and temperatures hitting 20C in London.”

He added: “Look at the prospects so from Saturday, Sunday through next week we’re talking 20’s, mid 20’s in the South.”

UK forecast for the next 5 days

Wet start for much of England and Wales today.

Today:

Rainfall, heavy at times, for Wales and much of England this morning, rain later dissipating to sunny spells from all but the Far East and South East. Sunny periods for Scotland and Northern Ireland, but also some showers.

This evening:

For many a nice end to the day, any rain in the early evening in the south-east will soon subside. Dry with clear spells for many overnight but some showers in the northwest.

Thursday:

Most areas are fine and dry with sunny spells best in the south-east. Cloudier and windier over Scotland and Northern Ireland with occasional showers.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

For the far northwest Friday windy with rain, otherwise mostly nice and dry and it will be warm. Risk of thunderstorms in the extreme south on Sunday.