Click here for details of the weather over the next few days.

Please note that forecasting beyond five days is notoriously difficult, and small errors at short-range can lead to large deviations further in time. Our longer-range forecasts are based on the most accurate weather data available at the time, but alterations may be required as the period progresses. Please check back regularly for the most up-to-date forecast run.

Saturday 11/12/04 to Sunday 12/12/04
The synoptic setup for Saturday will be very similar to that of this week, with a blocking area of high pressure across Europe, and weather fronts trying to work their way into western parts. With the high pressure close-by, central and southern England, along with Wales, will be dry and fairly bright. The best of the sunshine will be in the south though. Southern parts of Ireland should also be quite bright, but northern parts of Ireland, together with Ulster will be cloudy with patchy rain. This damp weather will also affect northern England and Scotland, although the far north of Scotland should become brighter. There won’t be much change on Sunday either, with high pressure continuing to give generally dry and bright weather across southern and eastern parts of the UK. Out to the west and across Scotland, the cloud will persist, perhaps with some coastal drizzle at times. It will be mild here though, with southerly winds.

Monday 13/12/04 to Tuesday 14/12/04
On Monday, the high may slip a little further eastwards, but it will still exert its influence over most of the UK. It will be quite a chilly start with some fog patches, especially where the winds are light across central England. No fog problems across Ireland, Northern Ireland or Scotland though, as southerly winds remain fresh. Although there will be a lot of cloud here, it will remain dry. On Tuesday, the beginnings of a change look like setting in, especially across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Freshening westerly winds will bring cloud and outbreaks of heavy rain across these areas, particularly so in the afternoon. Further south across England and Wales, together with southern parts of Ireland, there won’t be much change. Most places here will have some sunny spells, but with light winds, overnight fog patches may linger for much of the day.

Wednesday 15/12/04 to Thursday 16/12/04
Wednesday will be wet and very windy across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with heavy rain. This rain will sink southwards across northern England and the rest of Ireland through the day. For the rest of England and Wales, more settled, fairly mundane weather, with cloudy skies and precious little sunshine. By Thursday, the rain should have reached just about everywhere, becoming heavy at times. Winds will turn north-westerly behind the rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the colder air perhaps turning the rain to snow over the mountains. For England and Wales, it will remain cloudy and fairly wet throughout the day. Please check back for further forecast updates.