WARNINGS OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE WEATHER:
*Storm winds in parts of exposed NW early to midweek with gusts to 75mph in the exposed areas
*Heavy snow with drifting in places midweek in mainly upland Scotland
WEEKLY SUMMARY
Generally March living up to the old lore that it 'comes in like a lion' as the saying goes with generally a very unsettled start to it with gales and rain sweeping east with some blustery cold weather for a time with snow in places but probably quieter and more settled after midweek as high presure becomes more dominant for a few days, though less so in the north
DAY BY DAY OUTLOOK
Monday 3rd looks likely to see low pressure to the NE bringing a cold NW'ly flow across the UK with some strong winds in the NW with local gales. A cold cloudy wet start for many with rain across most parts of the south and SE up through the Midlands and eastern England. Further north clear periods will have allowed a slight or moderate frost across Northern England and Scotland with significant icy patches. This clearing to leave a day of sunny periods and wintry showers for many in the north though and these wintry showers will be heavy in the north west especially over hills and near exposed coasts with local accumulations of a few cm and drifting over hills in strong NW winds. Further south west though across Wales and the SW the showers more of rain and sleet except over Welsh hills. Some hail and thunder is possible in the west and north though almost anywhere in the heavier showers. Showery rain soon clearing away east from more southern and eastern parts and it may well be cold enough to give some sleet or snow over hills before it does so. Then a day of sunny or bright spells and some occasional blustery wintry showers pushing through. Another slight-moderate frost setting in with icy patches again in many inland areas after dark. Milder initially in the far south and SE at 7-9C but becoming colder and more like 3-5C generally and only near freezing in the upland north and across central Scotland.
Tuesday 4th will see high pressure push across the south initially but another deep low pressure area will develop to the NW of Scotland probably bringing another period of severe gales or local storm winds in the N of N Ireland and N and W Scotland later, though mainly near coasts, with gusts to 75mph. However a chilly night everywhere to start especially in parts of central Scotland where a severe frost is likely especially over snowfields.After the early frost inland clears a bright day for most, though the north of England and much of Scotland will see blustery wintry showers, some heavy with hail and drifting hill snow, these extending to some other areas during the day though Wales and south, SE and SW of England drier with variable amounts of cloud and sunny periods. Cloud and rain pushing into western parts though by the late afternoon and this will be heavy over western upslopes as the wind picks up to become severe gale force in the far NW later with a period of storm winds from the SW possible across parts of exposed N Ireland, and the Western isles as well as NW and W Scotland by late evening. The rain will be preceded by hill snow too across Scotland with severe drifting in the winds later across upland areas as accumulations of 5-15cm occur. A cold day though generally at 4-7C though milder later in the west at 7-9C but more like 3-4C further north and east over northern England, N Ireland and Scotland and only -1C in central Highland Scotland.
Wednesday 5th will see the very deep low pressure move across N Scotland bringing a very stormy period here indeed then out into the central North Sea by the evening and a ridge of high pressure may then move into the south and west of the UK with a still very strong but moderating N-NW'ly flow in central and eastern parts as it does so. So a complicated and still very developmental day but at present it looks as if after a frost likely initially inland in parts of the far north east of England and E Scotland with icy patches & some mist and low cloud developing, many areas will be cloudy, wet and windy, though least so in the far SE and east of the UK. The rain may stay rather wintry over upland Scotland and give quite a lot of snow here with blizzard conditions and drifting. Elsewhere anything wintry should soon turn back to rain but by mid morning it should mainly clear away east to give a day of bright or sunny periods especially in the west and south but still cloudier for a time in the north and north east and a lot of showers pushing in from the west, some heavy and squally in the NW with the risk of hail and thunder locally. The rain showers generally dying out by the evening for most areas as pressure rises. A ground frost then developing across sheltered parts of the UK with icy patches but it will mainly be too windy with localised gales in the north east still, only slowly abating. Temperatures about 8-10C in the south & west generally but more like 5-7C in the north and east and perhaps only 1-3C in the parts of eastern and Highland Scotland.
Thursday 6th is still rather uncertain at present but it looks likely to see the low pressure system over the mid north sea still slowly filling as N-NW'ly winds abate and high pressure moves east over the UK. Showers in the east at times overnight and during the day, mainly near exposed NE coasts, wintry in places. Generally drier and brighter elsewhere with sunny periods by day after an early slight frost and icy patches though a few showers, possibly wintry, can't be ruled out, especially near north and NW coasts. Frost returning inland by evening. Generally temperatures will be around 6-7C but parts of northern England and Scotland may only see 2-4C, very chilly for early March & upland Scotland may stay near freezing all day.
Friday 7th looks likely to see high pressure across or to the west of the UK giving a chilly N'ly flow still for many. A weak area of low pressure may slip SE down eastern coasts over the North Sea earlier though the exact position of its track and any precipitation it will carry is still rather uncertain. It looks like most of central, southern & western UK will see an early frost, moderate in places in the north, then sunny periods. A few showers though perhaps on the wintry side especially over high ground for the east or possibly a longer period of rain or sleet in places for a time. Local upland accumulations can't be ruled out. A frost again for many by evening. Temperatures on the chilly side at 5-7C generally and only 1-3C across parts of central Scotland.
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March do look like high pressure will lie over the UK at present gradually sinking south on Sunday as weak fronts affect the NW so a generally chilly weekend, especially at night with moderate frost in inland areas in the north on both nights though more generally on Saturday night but again perhaps on Sunday in the south and east of the UK. A sunny day for most parts then though Saturday as any patchy early low cloud or mist or possibly isolated freezing fog patches clear. Best of the sunshine on Sunday is most probably likely in the south and south eastern parts after the patchy low cloud and mist clears away. Sunday looks likely to start dry and fairly bright here though under the influence of the high pressure but probably becoming cloudier elsewhere, with some rain moving east as fronts develop in the NW, possibly preceded by some sleet in the north. Temperatures generally 7-10C in the south and SE over the weekend, more like 5-7C elsewhere and only 4C in the Highlands of Scotland.
hope it's clear by the morning 