Stone (Staffordshire) weather

Headline:

Sunny spells, becoming prolonged. Gusty winds developing.

Today:

Dry with spells of cloudy weather interspersed with periods of sunshine, these most prolonged during the afternoon. Somewhat warmer than on Monday, though increasingly breezy with an easterly wind developing, this becoming gusty in places. Maximum temperature 15 °C.

Tonight:

Clear and dry overnight, with some patchy cloud developing across eastern counties later. Chilly overnight, perhaps with a touch of frost in some sheltered rural spots. Remaining blustery. Minimum temperature 3 °C.

Wednesday:

A chilly start on Wednesday with any cloud soon lifting to leave a sunny day with plenty of strong April sunshine. Warmer than recent days, despite the breezy conditions. Maximum temperature 17 °C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Dry through the remainder of the week with high pressure dominating. Often sunny and feeling warm by day. Chilly nights with rural frosts possible as winds ease. Cloudier on Saturday.

High pressure is likely to be centred close to or across the UK through much of this period, so many places will be largely dry with clear or sunny periods. Some showery rain may affect northern and western parts this weekend though. Colder air will also try to push into the country from the north this weekend but will probably only briefly make limited progress into the northeast, where it could bring a short-lived showery interlude, some of these wintry. Winds will be mostly light, but briefly stronger in the northeast as the colder air tries to come south. Temperatures will probably be near or slightly above normal for many, but with a risk of colder conditions affecting the north or more especially the northeast this weekend.

Slowly evolving weather patterns are probable through this period. Within this, high pressure is more likely than not to be located somewhere to the north or northwest with low pressure closer to southern and possibly eastern areas. The orientation of and proximity to the UK of each of these features will be key to regional weather on a day-to-day basis. However, on balance, northern and some western areas are likely be drier, with southern and possibly some eastern parts seeing more in the way of rain or showers. Overall, temperatures probably close to or a little above average, though scope for some cold nights with late season frost, especially in the north.