Met Office reveals why it feels so cold and when things will finally warm up

Shannon Brown

25 April 2024 at 10:56 am·3-min read

Arctic winds have left a frosty chill in the air - but the Met Office says things will soon heat up -Credit:Shared Content Unit

The first day of spring was more than a month ago but it feels more like October outside. Temperatures across the UK have rarely reached double figures this month and weather forecasters have said it has been a colder than average April - so when will it finally get warmer?

According to meteorologists, the current bout of frosty weather - which has seen it snow in some northern parts of the UK - is down to icy blasts of Arctic air from the north. This has kept temperatures low and gave us Storm Kathleen at the beginning of the month. April is known for being a bit hit and miss with the weather and temperatures can vary by more than 10 degrees.

BBC Weather reports that the average max temperatures in late April tend to be between 11 and 16C. This week the mercury has been well below that, thanks to those northerly winds. However, it has been fairly dry and, when the sun pops out for a brief spell, it can even feel toasty warm.

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A Met Office spokesperson told the Metro the main reason you might have needed to don gloves and a woolly hat this week is due to the wind direction. "We have high pressure sat to the west of the UK at the moment and low pressure to the east," they told the publication.

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"This means we have northerly winds bringing in the lower temperatures." Long-time BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood added: "High pressure is out to the west so all the wind is coming around it, down the North Sea coastline, so we are pulling in Arctic air at the moment."

Forecasters predict an end to the frost conditions by the end of the week. Temperatures will start to creep up from Saturday, when the northerly winds will be cut off by an area of low pressure. However, this warmer spell also comes with more wet weather for many areas.

BBC meteorologists say rain will move up from the south of England and Wales on Saturday, with heavier rain expected to settle in on Sunday. Temperatures will rise slowly but it is unlikely to feel considerably warmer until next week.

Met Office South West weekly forecast

This Evening and Tonight

Showery rain clearing the far east this evening with showers possible in parts of Cornwall overnight, these heavy in places. Elsewhere turning drier and chilly with occasional clearer spells and a few fog patches. Minimum temperature 4 °C.

Friday

Eastern counties starting bright and probably staying largely dry. Thickening cloud in the west with showery rain becoming more widespread and heavy through the day. Breezy along the coasts. Maximum temperature 12 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday

Showers at times on Saturday with heavy rain likely later. Wet overnight with further rain at times on Sunday. Mainly dry with sunny intervals on Monday. Breezy at times.

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Met Office South West weekly forecast

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