Weather Manchester is on course for a notable turn by the end of the week, with temperatures set to climb after a run of chilly, unsettled days across the UK. The change should bring a much milder feel by Sunday and a stronger burst of warmth later in the week, even if showers and longer spells of rain never fully leave the forecast.
This week has been running 4-7C below average under northerly winds, and many places have already seen showers, thunderstorms and hail. That pattern begins to ease on Saturday, when a bright start is expected before cloud thickens from the west and some rain reaches Northern Ireland and western areas of England and Wales. By Sunday, temperatures should recover to around 12-16C, close to the average for the time of year, and lighter winds should make it feel warmer than it has done all week.
The real change arrives as warmer southerly winds spread across the country. By Tuesday and Wednesday next week, temperatures are forecast to reach or just surpass average levels, with 16-20C expected for most parts of the UK. Later in the week, the warm-up strengthens further, with 20-26C looking likely across most areas and the highest readings most likely in south-east England. Parts of south-east England could be as warm as 26C by the end of the week, although forecasters say there is still some uncertainty that far ahead.
The outlook is warmer, but not settled. Sunshine will appear at times, yet showers or longer spells of rain will also feature through the week ahead, and the weekend is expected to remain quite changeable with a mix of sun and rain at different times. The latest forecast points to a clear easing of the cold snap, but not a clean switch to summer weather. For now, the message is simple: the UK is warming, but the umbrella is still staying close by.
