UK weather: Country warms up for weekend with spring around corner

Sunshine and mild temperatures herald blossoming of new season

Much of the UK will enjoy a sunny and mild weekend as the country bids farewell to the last day of the meteorological winter on Sunday.

The Met Office said a band of cloud and patchy light rain would move south into northern England and north Wales on Saturday, but elsewhere it would be dry with sunny spells and temperatures in double figures.

On Sunday and into next week, forecasters said it would continue to be largely dry for most with patchy cloud and sunny spells by day, and some overnight frost and fog.

Temperatures will stay on the mild side and it is likely to feel warm with only light winds, the Met Office said.

Aidan McGivern, a Met Office forecaster, said: “Meteorological spring may not begin until Monday but we will have a sneak preview this weekend.

“In fact, following an eventful winter so far, you could say winter goes out on a whimper this weekend.

“Very quiet conditions with high pressure in charge, dry for most, not necessarily sunny everywhere but it will be mild.”

He said high pressure had “set up shop across southern parts of the UK” with slightly breezier conditions further north.

A weather front will approach the UK from the northwest, sinking south, but it will largely diminish over the course of the weekend.

“It will still have enough juice in it to give rainfall for some central and southern Scotland and then parts of northern england for Saturday,” said Mr McGivern

“For many it is just turning drier and for southern parts of the country, following a frosty start, [Saturday] is looking like a lovely afternoon.”

Most parts of the country would enjoy “above average temperatures” with highs of 11C to 13C, he added.

An area of high pressure is expected to cover the entirety of the UK for the second half of the weekend, meaning light winds and stable conditions.

Mr McGivern said there would still be mist and fog patches on Sunday morning and pockets of low cloud, particularly in the central zone of the UK where rain showers are possible.

“But, for the vast majority, because we have high pressure, it should be a dry and settled Sunday with some spells of sunshine, increasingly so through the day,” he said.

“Temperatures will be similar to Saturday, we are talking about double figures for most.”