Issued: 0900hrs Thursday 11th August 2016
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Short-lived heat

High pressure builds across the country this weekend, bringing fair weather and increasing amounts of sunshine. Briefly very warm early next week as southerly winds freshen, but quickly breaking down into thunderstorms by midweek.

For the weather for the next few days click here

Sunday 14/08/16
High pressure becomes established across the British Isles, bringing a settled day to all regions. Dry for all, with sunshine and broken cloud. Best sunshine inland in the morning, then fair-weather cloud will tend to fill in by afternoon, whilst coastal areas will hold onto plenty of sun. Light winds and sea breezes. Starting cool, particularly north. Max temperatures reaching 17 to 19C north, 20 to 22C Midlands, 22 to 24C south.

Monday 15/08/16
Remaining fair, with high pressure becoming centred toward the east, allowing a south-easterly breeze to freshen. Dry across the country, with extensive sunshine. Slight haze, and some high level cloud may develop in the far west as fronts approach from the Atlantic. Winds may become strong around English Channel & Irish Sea coasts. Starting cool again, locally 7C or below in rural north. Highs climbing to 21 to 25C, warmest south.

Tuesday 16/08/16
Detail of timing becomes uncertain by midweek. High pressure to the east and low pressure west promotes a short-lived burst of heat, but fronts moving in from the Atlantic will trigger thunderstorms, initially across Ireland, then spreading into Britain from the south-west later, perhaps only into the night. Dry for most of Britain all day. A brisk south-easterly breeze. Strong sunshine, may turn hazy. Highs 23 to 28C, locally warmer south.

Wednesday 17/08/16
Low confidence of detail, but a thundery breakdown is expected as fronts move east across the country. The south-east may hold onto hot weather, but zones of thundery rain are likely to advance north & eastwards across Britain. Risk of localised flooding from torrential downpours. Fresher air and some sunshine follows from the west. Temperatures ranging from 20 to 28C, warmest south-east.

Thursday 18/08/16
Low pressure influences the country, moving east into the North Sea. Areas of rain are likely, some heavy and thundery bursts, may locally persist for several hours. Blustery winds. Cooler than previous days, highs 18 to 23C.

Friday 19/08/16
Detail uncertain, but a fresh westerly pattern is likely. Areas of showers, but some sunshine. Risk of a strong breeze. Pressure may build from the west to settle things down toward the weekend. Highs 17 to 22C.