Sudden (Greater Manchester) weather

Headline:

Sunny spells and feeling colder. Turning frosty overnight.

Today:

A mainly dry day with a mixture of sunny spells and occasional cloudier periods. Isolated, mainly light, showers are possible this morning, but most places staying dry. Feeling a bit colder, with a westerly breeze gradually easing. Maximum temperature 8 °C.

Tonight:

Remaining dry this evening and overnight with clear spells. Temperatures quickly falling away to give a widespread frost and the chance of a few freezing fog patches. Minimum temperature -2 °C.

Thursday:

A cold and frosty start with isolated freezing fog patches, which should clear during the morning. Otherwise, staying dry with plenty of winter sunshine and light winds. Maximum temperature 7 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Another cold start on Friday with sunny intervals. Turning cloudier and colder over the weekend, perhaps with the odd shower, which could be wintry. Sometimes breezy, giving a wind chill.

High pressure will likely sit to the northeast of the UK during this period. Consequently, winds across many areas are likely to come from an easterly quadrant, exacerbating the cold feel, with temperatures often below average. At first, there is the chance of more widespread precipitation, most likely mainly rain, across southernmost areas, before this clears away. Thereafter, there is a risk of some sleet or snow showers feeding in on the east to southeasterly wind, though many places may remain dry. Also a small chance of Atlantic fronts making inroads from the west, especially later in this period, which could also bring the possibility of at least transient snow. Overnight frost is likely to feature during this period, particularly where skies are clear.

Weather patterns in the UK are most likely to be slowly evolving during this period. It is most likely that high pressure to the east or northeast of the UK will dominate at first in some form or another, but with time this may decline, allowing an erratic transition to rather more unsettled and possibly less cold conditions. During this transition there is the possibility of more prolonged rain or snow developing, at least for a time, but confidence in these details is currently very low.