New weather maps have captured an incoming mix of heavy rain and a bitter, potentially below zero cold that looks set to upend what has been a promising start to March
Brits enjoying the recent springlike weather could be in for a disappointing weekend washout this month as temperatures decline and they’re lashed with inches of rainfall.
Meteorlogical spring began on March 1, bringing sun and comparatively mild conditions with it, a welcome change for the country which had until recently seen a widespread deep chill. The mercury soared to an impressive 19.2C in Northolt, west London, on Thursday, the highest the mercury has reached this year so far.
The sustained highs of the last week aren’t set to last much longer, according to the latest weather maps, which suggest a seismic temperature shift looming on the horizon – and some heavy rain.
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The latest weather maps from WXCharts show the temperatures starting to dip next Friday on March 13, when the mercury drifts back into the high single figures. Maximum temperatures will hit 8C, with the coldest areas – as usual – in Scotland and Northern Ireland seeing the lowest lows at between 0C and 1C, and London and southeast the highest.
The following day, the temperatures will split, again from north to south, between lows of 4C and highs of 9C, as a massive wave of rain descends over almost the entire country.
The same maps show the huge band arriving from the west at around 6am on Saturday and quickly blocking out the UK, leaving just the southern coast of England and northeast Scotland unexposed. That rain will continue pouding until late on Sunday with an output of more than an inch per hour on the west coast, with Scotland seeing a large snow blanket until well into the afternoon.
Temperatures on the day will have increased slightly to between 10C and 11C in England, and much lower – around -1C to 0C – in Scotland, a trend that will extend to the rest of the country the following day.
By Monday, March 16, the highest temperature could be just 2C in England, and far lower – down to -3C – in the Scottish Highlands. The Met Office long-range forecast, which covers March 11 to later that week on March 20, states that conditions will likely be “unsettled” across the country during the period, but that temperatures could be “above average”.
The forecasters said: “The first part of this period will continue to see the UK located at the interface between high pressure across Europe and low pressure over the North Atlantic.”
“As such, western areas will likely see spells of rain at times, along with stronger winds, whereas eastern parts should see more in the way of drier interludes, though even here, some rain is possible from time to time. Towards the middle of March, there is a signal for unsettled conditions to perhaps become more widespread, with all parts seeing a higher chance of rain and stronger winds. Throughout, temperatures should overall be a little above average for most areas.”
