Mere (Wiltshire) weather

Headline:

A very cold and frosty start to the new year.

Today:

A rather cloudy day today with some patchy outbreaks of mainly light rain. Some sunnier spells will develop, especially during New Year's afternoon. Feeling cold in the strengthening breeze. Maximum temperature 8 °C.

Tonight:

Largely dry overnight with some clear spells, especially in the east, with just the odd shower in the west. Turning cold under the clear skies with a frost developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.

Friday:

A bright start in the south, but a band of rain, sleet and some hill snow will sink southwards. Turning brighter from the north during the afternoon but remaining cold. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

A cold weekend with plenty of sunshine by day and widespread frosts by night. Some wintry showers possible in the west, but dry for many. Remaining similar on Monday.

The recent spell of cold, northerly winds should begin to ease by the middle of next week, with snow showers in the north and east becoming lighter and less frequent. However, bands of rain seem likely to gradually move in off the Atlantic and, as these encounter the cold air entrenched over the UK, some further snowfall is possible, particularly in central and eastern areas, with rain more likely in the west. From next weekend, the outlook becomes more uncertain. Most likely is that conditions will be less cold than recently, but there still remains potential for further spells of snow, especially in northern and central areas. Further south and west, some milder interludes are possible, with the chance of some heavier rain and stronger winds at times.

Whilst confidence in details is low, by the start of this period the transition back to westerly winds bringing Atlantic weather systems into the UK is expected to be complete, with temperatures most likely recovering to around or just below average. There is perhaps a weak signal for slowly evolving weather patterns to be more favoured than normal, such patterns increase the chances of frost and fog above normal by night.