Wales enjoyed its hottest day of the year at the beginning of the week, but the warm spell was short-lived
People enjoying the warm weather in Bute Park, Cardiff, which was one of the hottest places in Wales earlier this week (Image: Rob Browne/WalesOnline)
It felt like Wales saw the first signs of summer this week thanks to a warm spell and glorious sunshine which made some parts of the country the hottest places in the UK. However, the nicer weather was only short-lived and came to abrupt end with temperatures dropping by up to 10C overnight.
Beaches were filled with families enjoying the warm weather during the latter half of the Easter school holidays, with Wales experiencing its highest temperatures of the year on Tuesday.
Mona Anglesey was officially the hottest place in the UK on Tuesday, where a temperature of 24.8C was recorded. The glorious sunshine continued into Wednesday, with Bute Park in Cardiff also seeing temperatures above 24C. However, the Met Office warned the hot spell would only be short-lived, with temperatures in some places dropping by as much as 10C on Thursday.
But temperatures have plummeted and Wales is set for some very unsettled and potentially stormy weather this weekend after the abrupt end of the warm spell. However, there is a chance that warmer temperatures could be back on the cards as we head further into the month.
This weekend, the Met Office said there is a possibility heavy showers will be accompanied by thunder and coastal gales as wind speeds ramp up. You can see the weather maps which show the areas set to be hit by the worst of the weather here.
According to the BBC long-range forecast this changeable and unsettled weather will continue into next week, accompanied by “occasional shots of chillier air”. Later on in the month is when there is a greater chance of warmer spells, according to forecasters.
From Monday, April 13, to Sunday, April 19, the BBC says conditions will remain changeable with a slight uptake in temperatures. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter
The forecast states: “Throughout the middle of April the broad pattern is most likely to feature high pressure anomalies to the east of the UK, often centred in and around Scandinavia, with low pressure favouring the central and eastern Atlantic.
“This should draw in some milder or even warmer flows at times, mainly from midweek onwards and more especially across the southern UK. The northern UK may find itself in some brief chillier interludes, with temperatures closer to seasonal values averaged across the week.
“High pressure may not be strong enough to completely rebuff the eastward advance of Atlantic low pressure circulations, with associated frontal systems occasionally trying to move across the UK. As a result, there will probably be a chance of rain edging in at times with some stronger winds, more so in western regions than in eastern areas. Alternatively, there is a chance that high pressure could build more to the north-east and north, allowing weather systems to affect the southern UK more.”
For the latter stages of the month, the BBC predict it will be drier. Forecasters also say that the chance of any significant cold spells is “low”.
The long-range forecast from Monday, April 20, to Sunday, May 3 says: “Later in April and into early May high pressure should still feature somewhere near the UK but its positioning has high uncertainty. The most likely outcome is for high pressure anomalies to become located at higher latitudes, potentially towards Iceland and Greenland as Scandinavian high pressure possibly weakens.
“Its exact position will dictate temperatures and rainfall, but precipitation amounts should average out near or even a little below normal, and there will be higher chances of some relatively calm periods. There is a possibility that high pressure will be weaker, and thus an alternate scenario would eventually put the UK back into wetter weather.
“Any significantly cold weather is a low risk, and temperatures should generally be near normal for the period. A few cooler spells might be possible, especially across the northern UK.”
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