After a week of feeling like winter, people will suddenly feel spring again
After a week in which mid-May Britain felt closer to February — northerly winds pulling temperatures four to seven degrees below their seasonal place, hail arriving uninvited — the atmosphere is preparing a quieter, warmer chapter. By next weekend, a southwesterly flow and a building high-pressure system are expected to carry temperatures as high as 26 degrees Celsius to the southeast of England, potentially matching the warmest moments the country has recorded all year. It is a reminder that seasons do not arrive on schedule, but they do, in time, arrive.
- A week of relentless cold and hail has left people genuinely questioning whether spring ever came — temperatures have been running nearly a week behind where they belong.
- The wind is already beginning its turn westward, and this weekend will deliver the first tentative warmth, with Sunday reaching a more seasonally honest 12–16°C.
- By mid-week, 16–20°C becomes the norm across much of the UK, though showers and rain will keep the north and west unsettled.
- Late in the week, temperatures surge into the mid-20s, with southeast England watching for 26°C — a figure that would rival the country's warmest day of 2026 so far.
- A high-pressure system building from the south is the key: it promises not just heat but drier skies and sunshine that could carry warmth all the way through the bank holiday weekend.
The past week has felt more like winter than spring. Northerly winds dragged temperatures four to seven degrees below their mid-May norms, and the showers — heavy enough in places for hail and thunderstorms — have been relentless. People have begun to wonder aloud whether spring arrived at all this year. But the pattern is shifting.
This weekend, the wind swings westerly and the first real warmth returns. Saturday will start bright before Atlantic cloud brings rain to Northern Ireland and the western fringes. Sunday looks more promising — temperatures climbing to 12–16°C, lighter winds making the air feel genuinely mild, with showers retreating mostly to the north and west.
The real story begins next week. As winds continue their clockwise turn toward the southwest, temperatures will climb steadily. Tuesday and Wednesday should see 16–20°C across most of the UK — around or just above average — though mixed conditions will persist, particularly in the north and west.
Later in the week, something more significant arrives. Temperatures are forecast to surge into the 20s nationwide, with southeast England potentially reaching 26°C. That would rival the warmest readings the UK has seen all year — including 26.6°C at Kew Gardens on April 8th. Forecasts at this range carry real uncertainty, but the direction is clear.
Underpinning the late-week warmth is a high-pressure system building from the south, bringing not just heat but drier conditions and more sunshine. Early signs suggest this pleasant spell could extend into the bank holiday weekend — a genuine stretch of spring, after days that felt like they belonged to March.
The past week has felt more like winter than spring. Northerly winds have dragged temperatures down four to seven degrees below where they should be for mid-May, and the showers have been relentless—heavy enough in places to bring hail and thunderstorms. People have started to wonder aloud whether spring actually arrived this year. But the pattern is about to shift.
By the weekend, the wind will swing around to the west, and with it comes the first real sense of warmth returning. Saturday will start bright before cloud moves in from the Atlantic, bringing rain to Northern Ireland and the western edges of England and Wales. Sunday looks better: temperatures climbing to around 12 to 16 degrees Celsius, which is roughly where they should be for this time of year. The lighter winds will make it feel warmer than the bitter days just past, and showers will mostly stay in the north and west, leaving sunny spells for much of the country.
The real warming begins next week. As the wind continues its clockwise turn toward the southwest, temperatures will creep upward day by day. By Tuesday and Wednesday, most of the UK will see 16 to 20 degrees—right around average or just above it. The weather will remain mixed, with sunny intervals punctuated by showers or longer rain, particularly in the north and west. But this is just the opening act.
Later in the week, something more substantial arrives. Temperatures will surge into the 20s across most areas, and in the southeast of England, forecasters are watching for readings as high as 26 degrees Celsius. If that materializes, it would rival or exceed the warmest days the UK has seen so far this year: 26.6 degrees at Kew Gardens in London on April 8th, 24.8 degrees at Mona Airfield in Wales on April 7th, 23.9 degrees at Achnagart in Scotland on April 31st, and 21.5 degrees at Altnahinch in Northern Ireland on April 25th. The uncertainty at this distance is real—forecasts this far out can shift—but the direction is clear.
What makes the late-week warmth feel more settled is the building high-pressure system moving up from the south. This should bring not just warmth but also drier conditions and more sunshine for many parts of the country. The signs suggest this pleasant spell could even persist into the bank holiday weekend, offering a genuine stretch of spring weather after days that felt like they belonged to March.
Citas Notables
Thunderstorms and hail are actually quite common features of the weather this time of year as the extra daylight and warmth helps grow bigger showers that bring hail.— Simon King, BBC Weather
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does the UK get these sudden cold snaps in May? Isn't spring supposed to be warming up by now?
It's actually quite normal. The jet stream can still push cold air down from the north even in late spring. What's unusual is how pronounced this one has been—four to seven degrees below average is significant. But it doesn't last.
And the hail and thunderstorms—are those connected to the cold?
Exactly. Hail needs moisture and instability in the atmosphere. In spring, you get longer daylight hours and the sun's warmth creating that instability, so when cold air moves in, you get vigorous showers. It's actually a sign the season is trying to turn.
So the shift to westerly winds is what breaks the pattern?
Yes. Westerly winds bring air that's been warmed over the Atlantic. It's a classic setup for spring warmth in the UK. The wind direction is everything.
What about that 26-degree forecast for the southeast? How confident are they in that?
There's genuine uncertainty at that distance. But the pattern is solid—high pressure building from the south, southwest winds, longer days. The southeast is always the warmest part of the UK anyway. It's plausible, but forecasters are right to hedge it.
And if it does hit 26, that would be the warmest day of the year so far?
For England, yes. Kew Gardens hit 26.6 back in April, so it would be close. But the point isn't just the number—it's that after a week of feeling like winter, people will suddenly feel spring again.