Issued: 0900hrs Friday 5th June 2009
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling & Captain Bob

If you're requiring rain you'll be in luck, if you're wishing for summer, then perhaps don't hold your breath!
There's a bit of everything (well almost everything for everyone) to cater for all need within this pattern, perhaps in the shorter term weighted too much the one way, but then there's little if anything that can be done about it?
Low pressure looks as though it'll be taking control of the patter at least through the short term, the conditions rather un-summery and on the cool side of the comfort scale for the time of year for most of us? It may well be the case that it'll be well into the middle of June before conditions improve (I hesitate to say 'settle') as even then any drier spell may be short-lived as the whole of the pattern indicates northing more than a 'mixed' regime?
At best it looks as though it'll be the end of the month before the pattern turns to something akin to summer as high pressure should be controlling the flow into the beginning of July.
A weak anticyclonic westerly pattern looks set to dominate the opening of July before conditions turn unsettled everywhere for a time, hopefully some recovery thereafter as something akin to summer unfolds?

*13/06 - 19/06*
Low pressure should be controlling the pattern through the early part of the period to the northwest of the UK, the flow primarily south-westerly so temperature recovering well in the sunnier spots, rather breezy across the northwest at first.
The driest conditions will be found across the southern half of England where a ridge of high pressure should keep most places dry and pleasantly warm where any sunny spells will be at their lengthiest. Through the middle of the week pressure should rise generally across England and Wales as the ridge strengthens and a transitory area of high pressure drifts across southern bringing a drier and more summery few days to the south.
The north should see showery outbreaks of rain dying away to leave a drier and sunny spell of weather, so not at all too bad for a while. Across southern England it'll be warming with temperatures lifting, however showers will be breaking out as low pressure edges into southern Britain.

*06 - 26/06*
A weak pattern looks set to dominate here, although nothing that you could describe as settled at all. All areas are likely to see showers or longer outbreaks of rain at times, areas of precipitation merging together or moving slowly around the UK in a manly slack wind. It may at first feel quite humid and warm however there are distinct hints that as the end of the period approaches it will be turning somewhat fresher?
Low pressure looks set to be developing over the UK, with a cool and showery north-westerly flow established by the end of the week. Showers could become heavy and possibly thunder in nature and feeling cool everywhere for the time of year.

*27/06 - 03/07*
At long last High pressure should be building here, a ridge extending into the UK settling the conditions, summer may arrive here, so be prepared!
Becoming mainly dry across southern Britain through the early part of the period with developing lengthy sunny spells lifting the temperatures into the very warm category, rising humidity levels may just trigger the odd scattered thunderstorm during the later afternoon and evening.
The northwest of the UK will always be cloudier from time to time with scattered showers and it'll be to here that we will be looking for signs of the next change in fortunes, gathering cloud and patchy rain will approach the north, extending slowly and erratically southeast into northern England.

*04/07 - 10/07*
Whilst a weak ridge of high pressure may hold on across the southern half of the UK, a more pronounced westerly flow should be affecting the north.
Southern England and Wales should for the most part remain mainly dry and sunny through the opening of the period, some good sunny spells and light winds continuing to make if feel pleasantly warm. Patch cloud over northern England may bring some light rain or showers from time to time, although further north cloud will be thicker and some heavier showers are anticipated.
Later in the period the ridge over southern England may begin to decline away allowing cloudier conditions across the north to slip south and east, although by the time this reaches the far south it should be very patchy. Temperature although pleasantly warm at first will be on the slide as a fresher north-westerly flow establishes across most areas later.

*11/07 - 15/07*
We may still have a while to go before any real signs of a settled spell emerge, as the opening of this period looks set to bring a mixed regime of scattered showers and sunnier spells to southern Britain, somewhat more unsettled across the north where it'll be breezy and fresh.
The end of the period could just indicate the beginning of rise in pressure from the southwest that may well be start of a more pronounced spell of drier and warmer weather, we'll have to see whether this is firmed up next time?

Simon & Captain Bob
Email me at simon.keeling@weatheronline.co.uk