Saturday 03/01/04 to Sunday 04/01/04
Saturday will be a cold and frosty start across eastern England, but with sunny spells. Cloud, already giving outbreaks of mostly light rain across central and western parts of England, east Wales and eastern Scotland will spread to eastern England in the afternoon. There is the potential for some of the rain to turn to snow, although not amounting to much. Western parts of England and Wales, together with western Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland will have sunny spells and only scattered showers. Overnight, further rain will reach much of Ireland, but elsewhere becoming drier with fog patches. On Sunday, much of England will have a bright but rather foggy start. Elsewhere, cloud and outbreaks of rain, heavy in western parts will spread slowly eastwards. The rain will reach most parts by evening, although very light and patchy in the east. Still rather chilly here, but turning much milder everywhere else. Light to moderate westerly winds for all.

Monday 05/01/04 to Tuesday 06/01/04
On Monday, much of Scotland and Northern Ireland will have bright or sunny spells, but also a scattering of hefty showers, especially in western parts. Northern England will have a dry morning, but with rain spreading north during the afternoon. Much of Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia, together with many parts of Ireland will have a cloudy day with pulses of rain, heavy at times. The far south of England should stay mostly dry, and it will become very mild here. Overnight, the rain will continue eastwards, with western parts becoming drier. By Tuesday, the more persistent rain will become confined to eastern parts of both England and Scotland. Showers will affect western Scotland and Northern Ireland for a time, but elsewhere it will turn much drier and brighter. The best of the sunny spells will be across parts of Ireland, and later south-west England and west Wales. Staying very mild for the time of year.

Wednesday 07/01/04 to Friday 09/01/04
On Wednesday, much of Scotland, together with central and eastern England will have a dry morning with sunny spells. Out to the west, winds will be freshening with gasle developing through the Irish Sea. Spells of rain will sweep eastwards across much of Ireland during the morning, across Wales and western England by early afternoon. By Thursday, the rain is expected to become confined to Scotland and eastern parts of England, with sunny spells and heavy showers affecting many other parts. Winds will remain strong, with gales or even severe gales in the north-west. By Friday, conditions are set to remain unsettled, with further rain or showers for many. At this current time, there are indications that conditions will turn very much colder across the north, with the return of snowfall. Further detail on next week and the weekend in the next forecast update.