Weekend Outlook
That time of the week again to take a look into the future and see what the coming Bank Holiday weekend has in-store at the moment. A ridge of high pressure is currently expected across parts of the UK on Saturday ahead of unfortunately more weather fronts and outbreaks of rain, especially across the north and west. At the moment parts of the east and south are likely to experience a very pleasant day indeed on Saturday, the first in quite some time! Into Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday unsettled conditions are expected across many areas, but again especially the north and west with any heavier rain being reserved for parts of Scotland and Ireland. All in all far from what should be expected for the last Bank Holiday of the summer...Oh well, there will no doubt be a Bank Holiday James Bond movie to watch at some point...

No End In Sight
We do keep looking, honestly we do, for some late summer weather, but as hard as we try to look for some we just can't seem to find any at all!... The medium and long term outlook remains very poor indeed with no signal for any summer weather. Next week looks distinctly 'autumnal' if you are allowed to use that word in August that is. Low pressure is expected to bring some heavy showers or longer spells of rain to many and there will also be some strong winds as well. Bar the exception of an odd dry day here or there in-between weather systems it is unsettled as far as the meteorological eye can see. Here's hoping September delivers some late summer warmth and sunshine, otherwise it could well turn into a very long and arduous autumn and winter!...

Distinctly Average
At the beginning of the month we were discussing the potential weather for the opening week or two of August. The initial thoughts were one of unsettled conditions mainly with further spells of rain. In the blink of an eye one week has passed us by and it is safe to say it was a week that was primarily unsettled and often very wet. The outlook beyond the middle of the month now remains disappointing and distinctly average at very best. The best of the weather looks like being across the east and southeast with further spells of rain or showers for the north and west. The longer range weather patterns once again signal a picture of unsettled conditions with little in the way of any high pressure influence. If things don't 'buck up' soon we can kiss good bye to another dreadful summer...

August Thoughts
Well there goes yet another summer month, where does these months keep going to?... August is often a month of varied conditions in the UK but it can still bring some hot and summery weather, despite the ever decreasing day light and progression towards the first autumn month that is September. The indications for the first half of the month are for unsettled conditions to be the primary dominating feature of the weather, especially across the north and west of the UK, with the best of the drier and brighter conditions across the east and south. One thing is for sure, there will be some very wet weather at times and with no real sign of any prolonged high pressure dominated weather, the first half of August may well be very disappointing. Here's hoping we get some late heat and sunshine later in the month and perhaps even into early September, the speed at which this year seems to be passing us by, we will soon be putting the clocks back!...eeek!

Cool & Unsettled
Well after a taste of what summer should be about, the longer term outlook is one of increasingly unsettled and cooler conditions once again. Here at Metcheck the forecasters are always keeping a look out for any interesting meteorological events and patterns in the medium to long term. The last few days to a week as produced some very good weather over parts of the country and the warm weather will peak in the next day or so. Unfortunately however the outlook into early August is for a return to what we have come to expect from this summer in general and that is primarily unsettled and cool conditions. It would seem as though low pressure will be the dominant feature of the weather bringing a return to showers longer spells of rain and cool temperatures. Well it was nice while it lasted...

A Taste of Summer
It was only a few days ago that the outlook beyond the weekend was one of change to more unsettled and much cooler conditions, however in what has been quite a substantial turn around within a short time span, the warm and summery weather is set to continue well beyond this weekend and into next week. Despite an expected lack of a substantial high pressure, there is reasonable confidence for temperatures to remain within the low to mid 20's and for further spells of sunshine. We may well be looking at the most significant and summery part of what has been so far a poor summer. Within the long term things do look like becoming more unsettled and cooler as we progress into August, but for the time being if your longing for a run of warm or very warm days and some sunshine then the next 3 to 5 days could be just up your street!...

Tropical Trouble
While the heat and humidity of the tropics may seem like a long way from the UK at the moment, we thought it would be worthwhile highlighting the point that the warmer weather this week is being provided thanks to the remnants of an ex-hurricane, Bertha. During this time of year and especially as we move into August and September the remnants of tropical features can influence the weather when they emerge into the North Atlantic as extra-tropical features. Take Bertha for example. This tropical storm is currently heading north into the North Atlantic and will develop into a powerful North Atlantic storm system over the coming few days. However a developing area of high pressure is being thrown up ahead of this low pressure which is what will bring us our warm and settled weather this week. Thanks Bertha!... The opposite can happen as well however with extra-tropical features bringing some very wet and windy weather to parts of the UK during the late summer and into the early autumn. So while you may think that hurricanes and tropical storms are reserved for places like the Caribbean and Florida, the remnants of them can have some very interesting and influential repercussions on the UK's weather.

Heat & Humidity
For those of you desperate for a heat and humidity fix your wait may well be over!... A couple of days ago we were highlighting the potential for more summer-like weather to develop next week primarily thanks to a ridge of high pressure that develops ahead of the remnants of Tropical Storm Bertha, well that trend has continued. There is now reasonable confidence that south or southwesterly winds will develop next week, approximately from Tuesday onwards bringing a marked and rapid rise in temperatures by the middle of next week. At the moment max temperatures could be ranging between 24C and 27C and with increasing humidity it is going to feel very warm indeed and with a growing risk of some summer thunderstorms as well. We will bring you more on this later in the weekend, but a taste of summer looks likely next week...stay tuned!

Beneficial Bertha
What was once hurricane Bertha is now tropical storm Bertha, which is currently located to the northeast of Bermuda in the Atlantic. Bertha has been very slow moving over the last couple of days meandering around in what is the northern extremes of the tropical North Atlantic. Over the next few days Bertha is finally expected to make progression northeast-wards into the North Atlantic as an extra-tropical low pressure feature, however Bertha may well have an underlying benefit. Current forecast models are showing the potential for the Azores High to ridge northeast-wards up into the UK ahead of Bertha next week signaling the potential for a warming trend and also some prolonged settled conditions, especially for England and Wales. There remains some significant uncertainty over this at the moment however because of the potential changes in track of Bertha in the coming days. That being said we could be looking at a potential pattern change, at least for more southern parts of the UK next week with more in the way of summery weather. Stay tuned for more on this in the coming days...

Mixed Week Ahead
What a glorious day it has been for a large portion of the UK today, we can smell the numerous BBQ's still going here at Metcheck HQ!... The coming week will unfortunately continue the theme of recent weeks and that is primarily unsettled conditions, especially for the north and west of the country. With pressure always highest to the south-west of the country this is where the best of the weather will be this coming week. A warm and quite humid start to the week is anticipated but with a lot of cloud and some light rain or drizzle across the northern half of the country. A band of rain sinking southwards during Tuesday will bring a return to cooler and fresher conditions from the northwest. A reasonable day is currently expected on Wednesday albeit markedly cooler and fresher than earlier in the week. Some good bright or sunny spells are expected with just the threat of some showers across the north. Unfortunately we are expecting an unsettled end to the week for many parts of the UK with showers or longer spells of rain at times. Overall another week of summer is upon us and another week is likely to pass by without any significant summer weather...

Any Sign of Summer?
With next Tuesday (16th) marking the half way point of summer already, we thought it was about time to have a good look to see if we could find some hope of summer arriving in the near future... A brief respite from the unsettled conditions this weekend is expected to be brought about by a ridge of high pressure ahead of yet more unsettled conditions next week. One thing that does look likely is for a brief warming trend into early next week so for parts of England and Wales some summer warmth will greet us for the start of the new working week. Unfortunately apart from that we couldn't find any other outcome other than unsettled and cool in the longer term with increasingly cooler and unsettled conditions arriving later next week. We can only hope that between now and the end of August the Azores High makes some sort of appearance...

Wednesday Woes
The last couple of days have been quite electrifying...literally!... We have read some great reports on the website of the many heavy showers and thunderstorms that people have witnessed over the last couple of days. Some great pictures have been posted as well. The weather is set to take a turn for the worst (yes it is possible!) with the mixture of sunshine and showers giving way to more persistent rain as we say hello to another area of low pressure approaching from the southwest. Parts of Southwest England, Wales and Southern England will see the brunt of the rain from this next system in what is expected to be a miserable day indeed on Wednesday. More northern parts of the UK will see some brightness and should escape the worst of the weather, at least for a time, wet weather will arrive here during Thursday. Get the cameras ready again because the end of the week and into the coming weekend sees a likely return to a mixture of sunshine and heavy, thundery showers...all in all excellent weather for ducks!

Hurricane Bertha
Bertha was upgraded to a Category 3, major hurricane overnight in what is the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season. There is some uncertainty over the developments of Bertha within the longer term due to potential changes in track and intensity. The recent upgrade to a major hurricane comes about due to favorable upper level winds and warm sea temperatures and these ingredients are expected to continue for the next day or so before a gradual weakening takes place. At the moment it looks as though Bertha will make a turn towards the northwest or perhaps even north which is likely to mean there will be no direct hit to the mainland US, however the island of Bermuda could get a direct hit from Bertha in the coming days. As ever when these tropical features come north into the North Atlantic it is always interesting to see what impacts on the weather they can have and with the remnants of Bertha likely to make an appearance in the western North Atlantic in about 6 or 7 days time it is worth keeping an eye on developments.

Wet Week Ahead
We do hate to be the bearer of bad news, so please don't shoot the messenger when we tell you that the coming week is going to be wetter than a movie theatre after a screening of Titanic!... Unfortunately low pressure is expected to be the dominant feature of the weather once again this week. The first half of the week is expected to be showery with some heavy and potentially thundery showers expected. Come the middle of the week and we are attacked once again from the southwest by another well developed low pressure which will bring renewed strong winds and heavy rain, the rain is currently expected to be heaviest and most persistent across England and Wales. We end the week with low pressure sat over the UK once again bringing a return to sunshine and scattered, heavy showers. With temperatures generally around or below average all week as well it is unfortunately another week of the summer we can write off already...

Tomina Rattles In
Yep, this is an actual real picture taken on Porthmeor beach this morning. Some fruitcake decided that they were going to head to the beach regardless of the weather and stick out like a sore thumb in the rain and gales currently in Cornwall. All eyes are now on Gale Tomina which is currently across the South-west. During Friday and Saturday, so the storm will move slowly North towards the Bristol channel with winds of up to 50mph and gusts of up to 60mph across hills and coasts. Needless to say it's going to be pretty yucky, but mariners should be aware that the conditions out there will be horrendous for much of the inshore waters across South-west, Western and Southern England. Heavy rain for much of Southern England too as the frontal systems straddle around Tomina, but certainly a weekend for putting up the shelves if you haven't already decided what to do. In one word... sucks! Have a great weekend anyway and don't play ping pong with anyone we wouldn't play ping pong with on Saturday night. Luv y'all!

Big Bertha
The Atlantic hurricane season is starting to take hold with the recent upgrade of Tropical Storm Bertha which is currently in the Eastern Atlantic near the Cape Verde islands. Still way too early to predict the exact path of Bertha, however she is expected to continue on a West-Northwest trajectory over the next few days and of course we'll be following her movements closely. This year, both the UK Met Office and the Colorado State University are forecasting an above average season for hurricanes in the Atlantic basin.

Troublesome Tomina
Time to batten down the hatches across South-western parts as Gale Tomina pushes in on Friday bringing not just unseasonal but abnormal weather for the British Isles during July. On Friday, the first of the rain edges into Cornwall and Devon followed later by the wind. The real concern comes into Saturday as winds of up to 50mph combine with high Spring tides to create a monstrous swell across Southern regions. Mariners and aviation should prepare for adverse weather and if you're thinking about taking your uncles boat out to sea then make other plans. Tomina is going to hang around for a while. The system is expected to track North into Southern Ireland during Saturday leaving many areas in a blustery, cool and showery airstream. She finally starts pushing West on Sunday with more showers and strong winds leaving the UK scratching its head and wondering where on earth Summer went. Enjoy... not!

Sunshine n Showers
Rain clearing away from Eastern areas smartly this morning, however it's a mixed bag on the cards for all areas as low pressure continues to resume its influence on the British weather. At present, the area of cloud to the South of the UK looks poorly handled by the weather models. There appears to be far more convective potential around than most of the models are predicting, however regardless of this, so many areas will see showers and perhaps thunderstorms later today. Showers initially across Western areas this morning, however during the day so these will develop across more Central and Eastern areas. An encore weather-wise for most places on Thursday, however the trouble is already brewing in the Atlantic as a deep area of low pressure pushes in for Friday bringing a wet and windy weekend for all areas.

Thermal troughs are sexy!
Well, not perhaps in the same way as some would think, but we've got a classic UK Summer situation developing today, so we thought we'd sex it up a little bit and show you how thermal troughs should be bigged up in the same way as deep lows. Right now, we've got a system out in the Atlantic called Gale Renate. Because Renate isn't moving that quickly, the air ahead of it is being pumped up from the South bringing us some lovely warm and sunny weather. However, to the West, so cooler air is being pushed in at around 10,000ft. The result? well it's a bit like a boiling plate. You've got hot temperatures at the surface, then cooler air moving in above which will let the little hot air bubbles rise up to 30,000ft. Today we have the warm temperatures, we have a plume of moist air pushing in from the South and we also have cooler air pushing in from the West. Perfect conditions for some home grown and imported thunderstorms. The plume of moist air is expected to pass across the South-east of the UK during Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. With such potent energy there is a high risk of hail and also a low risk of weak tornadoes for a time. So there you go, thermal troughs are sexy and it's official.... and if anyone tells you different then send them to Metcheck.

Renate Muscles In
A fine start to the working week, however things will soon change as Gale Renate pushes in slowly from the Atlantic. The first sign of the unsettled weather will push into Western Ireland during the course of today. Gradually, the frontal system will push slowly East with some heavy, possibly thundery showers ahead of it across Southern and Eastern England during Tuesday afternoon. From Wednesday Renate is in full control and sitting over the UK bringing a mixture of sunshine and showers with the additional risk of further rain pushing in from the South-west on Thursday. Summer it ain't!

Showery Sunday
Some early cloud across much of the country this morning heralds an incoming frontal system which will bring showers in from the North-west throughout today. Already, some showers have developed across parts of Western Scotland and the Pennines and as the day pushes on, so these will become more widespread as they head South-east. Kent and the far South-east could stay dry as the showers begin to die away once the sun sets, however for many Central and Western areas, so a few showers can be expected later this afternoon. A misty night to come across much of England and Wales, however the sun should return on Monday for many parts, with the exception of the far South coast which could hang on to the low cloud well into the afternoon. Cloud thickening across Western areas too as the next weather system to grace our shores heads in from the Atlantic.

Midweek Plume
A heads up on some more unsettled weather this week as winds swing to the South ahead of an incoming depression. As usual, this mixture of heat, humidity and instability will have to be watched closely on Tuesday night as some widespread heavy thunderstorms could push in from the near continent. On the plus side, this does mean that warmer temperatures can be expected for most on Tuesday with up to 25&deg:c possible across the South-east and Central areas.

Eastern Promise
A dull and cloudy start for the weekend days for most areas, however the sunshine will break through across Central and Eastern parts. The UK is currently situated in the blustery wake of Depression Patrizia. The result is showers across Northern England, dull and cloudy weather across Western parts, however as you move East, so the moisture drops and with it cloud levels too. More sunshine around for Ireland and Scotland on Sunday as the area of low pressure pushes out further into the North Sea. Into next week and a warm, sunny start to the week for many parts as a plume of warm air pushes in from the South, however behind it, low pressure tracks in again from the Atlantic bringing a more unsettled picture from Wednesday onwards. Honestly, we are trying to be optimistic about the weather, but at the moment we're about as cheery as the 10 o'clock news read with a headache..... don't worry, we're sure Summer will turn up eventually.

Patrizia Brings Rain
The warm, settled start to the week is now under the process of being broken down as Depression Patrizia pushes in from the Atlantic. The leading frontal systems will push across Western areas during Thursday with the main system following along for the end of the week. Rainfall amounts and exact locations are still a little hazy, however the heaviest of the rain is expected across Central and Northern areas today, and during the day, so the rain will filter Southwards. The brisk Westerly winds continuing too across many parts, perhaps gusts of up to 35-40mph across Southern areas on Friday as the showers push through in the wake of the frontal systems. Into the weekend and it's a combination sunshine and showers with more general rain pushing across the country on Friday evening.

Wimbledon Washout?
It's that time of year again, when we all remember Cliff Richard attempting to keep the British spirit up amid yet another Wimbledon downpour... Today is the first day of Wimbledon and overall the outlook isn't that bad for the opening few days. Given what has been a very unsettled period of weather recently a dry, sunny and pleasantly warm opening day will be a welcomed relief. With high pressure never to far away from the south of England this week there are likely to be some good periods of play thanks to predominantly dry and sunny weather. However there could be some wet weather for a time around the middle of the week and then more-so at the end of the week and into the coming weekend. The longer term outlook remains unsettled, as a result the second week of the Championships could well be a bit hit and miss...no pun intended!