Friday 25/04/03 to Saturday 26/04/03
Our month of high pressure will now be firmly behind us, and we are entering a very unsettled period of weather. By dawn on Friday, the rain from Thursday will linger across Scotland, although becoming lighter. Across much of southern England, Wales and Ireland further fronts will give widespread rainfall, rapidly moving north across western parts, more slowly across central parts. Some of the rain will be heavy, and will be accompanied by a strong southerly wind, gusting to gale force around Irish Sea coasts. During the evening and into Saturday, the rain band will push further north, clearing northern Scotland during the afternoon. Behind this, bright or sunny spells and showers. The showers will be heaviest and most frequent in the west, some with hail and thunder. Across the west of Ireland more persistent rain will push eastwards in the afternoon. Very windy everywhere, gales in the south-west, but staying mild, highs of between 14°C and 17°C.

Sunday 27/04/03 to Monday 28/04/03
Another day of April showers on Sunday, more frequent and widespread than Saturday however. Showers will be most frequent in the south and south-west, as afternoon troughs push eastwards. Showers will contain hail and thunder, and it will turn very blustery at times with winds in the south-west gusting to gale force. There will be sunny spells at times, especially in the east, and later in the day winds will begin to ease somewhat. By Monday a new low pressure system will sweep up from the south-west, bringing spells of heavy, thundery rain to southern parts during the morning. This will spread northwards during the afternoon, and again winds will become strong to gale force across Ireland and western mainland coasts. Northern parts will stay bright with a scattering of showers, although turning cloudier from the south in the evening.

Tuesday 29/04/03 to Thursday 01/05/03
Rain will clear swiftly from northern parts on Tuesday, then a strong southerly flow will bring frequent heavy showers to all parts. Winds will again touch gale force around exposed western coasts, gusty in and around heavier showers also. There will be sunny spells between the showers, especially in the east so feeling mild where these occur. Further fronts will spread from the west overnight and into Wednesday, bringing a spell of wet weather to many western and northern parts. Sunny spells and showers elsewhere, with winds moderating. Wednesday looks to be a little more settled across eastern parts, with spells of sunshine and staying mostly dry. Further, heavy showers in the west, perhaps merging into longer spells of rain. A little cooler by the afternoon.