Week ahead: Largely dry and increasingly warm

Tuesday 21 Apr 2026 @ 15:15
Met Office

The week ahead is set to bring plenty of dry and fine weather for many, with high pressure dominating and helping temperatures edge upwards as the days go on.

While it will not be completely cloud-free everywhere, especially at times in the east and south-west, the overall pattern is one of spring sunshine, light winds and a growing contrast between warmer western areas and cooler eastern coasts.

High pressure firmly in control

A large area of high pressure to the north will be the main driver of our weather through the week. This will keep conditions generally settled, limit the amount of rainfall and allow temperatures to rise steadily where sunshine is unbroken. Any rain that does occur is expected to be light and fairly limited in extent, with most places staying dry for long periods.

Tuesday: cloud clearing, sunshine developing

Tuesday will start with a fair amount of cloud across parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, with a few spots of mostly light rain or drizzle possible early on. This cloud will tend to break up and clear westwards through the day, leaving many areas dry with increasing sunshine by the afternoon.

Elsewhere, sunshine will dominate, though some high-level cloud may make the sunshine appear slightly hazy at times, particularly towards the south-west. Temperatures will rise into the mid-teens for many, feeling cooler along North Sea coasts where onshore breezes persist. Winds will become stronger in parts of the south and south-west later in the day, making it feel fresher despite the sunshine.

Wednesday: brighter west, cooler east

By Wednesday morning, clear skies in some areas will allow temperatures to dip close to freezing in a few rural spots, bringing a touch of frost. Further north and east, thicker cloud is expected, while cloud will also begin to increase across the far south-west as a weak front edges closer.

Through the day, much of the western and central UK will enjoy plenty of sunshine and dry conditions. Cloud in the north-east may linger for longer, with the odd spot of light rain or drizzle possible. In the south-west, cloud will thicken later, bringing a small chance of some patchy rain, mainly to coastal areas.

Temperatures will range widely. Sheltered western and southern areas could reach the high teens, while places under persistent cloud near the North Sea may struggle to lift out of single figures. Strong and gusty winds in the south and south-west will take the edge off the warmth, particularly near coasts and over higher ground.

Thursday and Friday: increasingly warm but cool mornings

High pressure remains dominant into Thursday and Friday. Some low cloud, mist or fog may form overnight and linger into the morning, especially near eastern coasts, but for most places this will quickly clear to give another dry and sunny day.

Day by day, temperatures are expected to creep upwards. Many areas will see the high teens, with parts of the south and west potentially reaching the low 20s where sunshine is prolonged and winds are lighter. Eastern coastal areas will continue to feel cooler, especially where onshore winds and cloud linger.

Nights will remain chilly where skies stay clear, with the risk of patchy frost persisting in prone rural locations.

Looking into the weekend

As we move into the weekend, there are signs that fronts may bring a little more cloud from the west, with the chance of a few showers or spots of rain. Even so, many areas are likely to stay dry for much of the time, and high pressure is expected to rebuild as the weekend progresses.

Sunday, in particular, looks set to be calmer and drier again for most, with plenty of sunshine and a pleasantly warm feel in sheltered spots.

Overall, the week ahead brings a strong signal for settled spring weather, with sunshine, rising temperatures and only limited interruptions from cloud, wind or light rain.

Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.

About this blog

This is the official blog of the Met Office news team, intended to provide journalists and bloggers with the latest weather, climate science and business news, and information from the Met Office.

Channel website: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk

Original article link: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/met-office-weather-forecast-for-the-week-ahead-april-20

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