UK weather forecast: Cold, frosty nights to hit before warmer weather arrives in time for weekend

Chillier mornings arrive as Britons allowed more outdoor exercise

There’s plenty of dry, bright weather to be seen throughout much of the UK on Wednesday, but temperatures remain low with early frost forming in places.

The chilly nights are expected to abate by Friday, as the weather starts to warm up and temperatures in parts of the country could reach 21C this weekend.

Maximum temperatures on Wednesday are only expected to get up to a maximum of 15C in the south. It will be a chilly day overall with light showers in some southeast coastal areas and patches of rain in the far north.

Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box told PA news agency: “There will be a bit of fresh wind for eastern and south-eastern parts of England as well in places, so it’s still going to feel on the chilly side.

“Temperatures about 14-15C in the south, but in the south and east again, that’s going to take the edge off those temperatures and make it feel a bit colder.”

Tonight, clear skies in most places will result in another cold night, with frost forming in quite a few areas.

Thursday will be a cloudier day for most, with some spells of sunshine and lighter winds. The day should feel somewhat warmer, particularly in the northeast of England.

But as the weekend approaches, a current band of high pressure will remain, giving Wales and much of England dry conditions with some sunny spells. Cloudier conditions are expected across the north and north-west of the country, and there may be rain in western Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England.

“Temperatures will have recovered by then to be mostly near normal (for the time of year) and it could be warm even and parts of the south could see temperatures hit 20 or 21 in the south east on Saturday and, more likely, Sunday,” he said.

The warmer weekend weather may draw more people outside after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Sunday that people will be allowed to spend more time outdoors exercising and playing some sports with their own households, and sunbathe from Wednesday.