The UK’s gloomy cold spell is coming to an end as temperatures are set to soar to 16C by the end of the week.
A Met Office forecast predicts the country will be even warmer than Greece but adds 70mph winds and rain are scheduled to hit the West.
Coastal areas of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are under yellow warnings for strong winds on Friday. Additionally, alerts have been issued for rain in the northern and southwest regions of Scotland.
According to Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone, there will be a shift to milder weather across the country starting on Thursday. However, this change will bring potentially impactful winds and rain.
‘While Thursday will see blustery winds and rain for many, it’s Friday when we could see more impacts, with warnings issued for wind and rain.
On Friday, the strongest winds are expected in south and west Wales, southwest Scotland, and eastern Northern Ireland. Wind speeds could reach up to 70mph on exposed coasts and around 60mph in the warned areas.
‘Rain is an additional hazard, with 30-40mm likely in parts of Scotland over a six-hour period, and up to around 70mm possible over higher ground within the warning areas.’
It comes as temperatures will begin to slowly climb on Wednesday, expected to rise into double figures by the end of the week, on a par with Rome or Madrid in some areas.
The UK’s gloomy cold spell is coming to an end as temperatures are set to soar to 16C by the end of the week (pictured: Snowdrops in the welcome sunshine in the ancient churchyard as part of All Saint’s Church in Oxfordshire)
A Met Office forecast predicts the country will be even warmer than Greece but adds that 70mph winds and rain are scheduled to hit the West (pictured: A woman shelters from the rain under an umbrella as she passes Senate House in Cambridge)
Yellow warnings have been issued for wind in coastal areas of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Friday with alerts also in place for rain in northern and south-west Scotland
A few locations in eastern England may even see highs of 15C and 19C on Friday contrasted to the average maximum temperature of mid February that usually sits at around 9C.
Though, the milder weather is not likely to beat the record for February which was set at 21.2C on 26 February 2019 in Kew Gardens.
The country is expected to be warmer than Greece, which is currently experiencing an unusually cold spell.
More rain and wind is expected from Sunday, according to the Met Office.
Mr Silverstone said: ‘The underlying factor in the shift in the UK’s weather is our transition from a cold easterly regime to more of a westerly regime.
‘While this pushes away the colder air that has been affecting us, it also reintroduces Atlantic weather systems and the potential for areas of low pressure to influence the UK’s weather.
‘While Saturday should provide respite for many, Sunday will see more wet and windy weather sweep east across the UK.
‘There’s a potential for further warnings on Sunday as details are firmed up in the coming days.’
The yellow warning for strong winds will be in force on Friday from 6am to 10am for eastern parts of Northern Ireland, and from 8am until 3pm for south-west Scotland and parts of Wales.
A yellow warning for rain comes into force on the same day from 6am until 6pm for south-west and north-east Scotland, with the forecaster warning travel disruption, power cuts, and flooding are ‘likely’.
There is a chance that existing weather warnings could be upgraded this weekend as there is the risk of a deep low tracking to the north of Scotland on Sunday, which could result in the first named storm of this month.
The high winds could lead to delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport, while large waves could affect coastal roads, forecasters warn.
The Met Office said people wanting to prepare for potential power cuts ‘could consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items’.
Those in coastal areas are urged to ‘take care’ if walking near cliffs or seafronts.
The unsettled weather is set to continue through the weekend with further spells of wind and rain – but forecasters say it is likely to stay ‘mild or very mild’.
Many areas could see sunny spells on Saturday, especially in the midlands and north.
Into early next week, ‘residual rain’ is due to clear from the south and far north of the UK, with ‘cooler, fresher, showery conditions becoming established’ and winds will also ease.
Temperatures are due to fall back to highs of 10-12C in southern areas and 9-10C further north on Monday and Tuesday.
A risk wintry weather could return remains into the beginning of March.
The Met Office said: ‘The rest of next week and into early March is rather uncertain.
‘It is possible that further spells of mild, wet and windy weather affect the UK, interspersed with colder, showery conditions with a risk of some snow in the north, but there is also a chance that drier, more settled conditions develop at times, especially towards the south or southeast of the UK.’
