Latest news with #MetDesk
Bloomberg
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Blast of North African Heat to Bake European Capitals This Week
Europe is set for unseasonably warm and humid weather this week, as a stream of hot air is funneled in from North Africa. The heat is already hitting Iberia, with parts of Spain climbing to as high as 40C (104F) on Monday. The warmth will spread north over the week, potentially bringing the highest temperatures of the year to the UK, France, Germany and Italy, according to MetDesk meteorologist Daniel Gardner-Declaudure.
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Scotland to see wet and warm end to sunniest ever spring this weekend
We have been blessed with stunning weather recently but we have an 'unsettled' few days to come. It's no secret that we've been enjoying some incredible weather in recent months. Last week, it was confirmed that it had been Scotland's sunniest spring since data began in 1910. This was followed by the news yesterday, May 28, that the UK had also seen more sunshine hours overall from March to May than any year ever recorded. April started and finished with two mini-heatwaves. And we all sizzled in May, enjoying several weeks of blue sky and searing sunshine. All good things must come to an end, however, and the last week has seen a return to the norm. The bank holiday weekend was a bit of a washout and it seems like we're going to see more showers as we wave goodbye to this record-breaking spring. The Met Office has predicted that scattered rain will continue throughout the UK over the coming days, giving us an "unsettled" start to summer. However, it is not all bad news as the national forecaster is expecting "sunny spells" to brighten our days in between the showers. The weather agency reckons we will see highs of 19C in both Edinburgh and Glasgow tomorrow, Friday, May 30, with the early evening forecast looking particularly pleasant. There will be some "heavy, persistent rain" to deal with today, however. But this will break and after some morning showers, things are looking much better as Friday develops. Offering their forecast for the next couple of days, the Met Office said: "Wind and rain will move steadily east [on Thursday], with heavy, persistent rain over northwestern hills in the morning. "Rain becomes patchy, with sunny spells developing across central and eastern areas. Cloudy elsewhere with drizzle. Winds easing, feeling locally warm. "Low cloud and drizzle will persist across many western hills overnight, before more persistent rain returns to the north and west, along with strengthening winds later. Clear spells elsewhere. "Rain clearing eastwards across northern areas [on Friday], cloudy across central areas, with sunny spells and showers across the south. Temperatures near normal overall, but feeling warm in the southeast." The outlook for the rest of the weekend, though, is not quite as promising. Many Scots will be waking up to rain on the final day of May. And looking at the weather maps from WX Charts, who use Met Desk data, there will be patchy rain across much of Scotland throughout Saturday on Sunday. Looking out over the weekend, the Met Office said: "Further showery rain this weekend, mainly in the north. Some very warm sunshine at first further south. Feeling warm, especially on Saturday, cooler from Sunday, and often breezy." And analysing the first week or so of June we should expect long and heavy spells of rain and even strong winds bringing an "unsettled" start to the summer months. The national forecaster said: "Dry for many on Monday [June 2] with spells of sunshine. A few showers are likely in places, especially the far north. "An unsettled period is then likely through the rest of week as areas of low pressure move in from the Atlantic across the UK. These will bring showers or longer spells of rain to most areas, these heavy at times, perhaps accompanied by strong winds along some coasts. "Over the following weekend and into the middle of June, dry weather will probably begin to become more dominant in the south, whereas the north is more likely to remain more unsettled. Temperatures are likely to be close to or slightly below normal at first, perhaps rising above normal later." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Steam trains win bank holiday reprieve as Network Rail lifts fire-risk ban
Steam trains will be able to run on the mainline during one of the busiest weeks of the year after heavy rain eased concerns about the threat of track-side fires. Network Rail lifted a steam ban on popular routes in North West England including the Settle & Carlisle and Cumbrian Coast lines, while the operator of the Jacobite train in Scotland said it would switch back to steam from diesel. Amber alerts indicating a risk of fire across the wider network were meanwhile downgraded after downpours on Friday night soaked lineside vegetation that had been tinderbox dry. An expert on Network Rail's special trains team said that months of minimal rainfall had created 'brown corridors' at substantial risk of being ignited by embers jettisoned by steam engines. He said: 'The entire country has been at high alert, but some routes, particularly in the North West, have been forced to ban steam in recent weeks as the risk has just been too great. 'But with the weather turning and rain arriving Friday night and over the weekend, the risk is reducing and steam can once again run on our metals.' This year has seen the driest start to spring in England since 1956, with half the expected rainfall in April and only a quarter of the long-term average in March. The trend continued into May, with warnings of imminent hosepipe bans and a summer drought, and wildfires breaking out in areas including Cumbria, Derbyshire and Dorset. Network Rail responded with a series of curbs on steam trains culminating in a 10-day blanket ban in the North West. However, with the heatwave ending as low pressure systems bring rainy conditions, Network Rail eased the restrictions in time for the spring bank holiday and school break. The decision was based on forecasts from MetDesk, which provides the firm with predictions of fire risk, ice and leaf fall, as well as weather forecasts for every 500 yards of track. North West England was moved from black alert to red status for Saturday, which meant that a steam locomotive could lead a train using limited power, assisted by a diesel engine at the rear. The risk level was dropped to amber on Sunday, simply requiring operators to exercise caution. West Coast Railways, the biggest operator of steam and classic diesel trains on the national network, said the reprieve was vital going into the busiest months for charter operations. James Shuttleworth, the firm's commercial manager, said that the rainfall meant the Jacobite train in the Highlands – dubbed the 'Hogwarts Express' for its appearances in the Harry Potter franchise – will also be able to return to steam traction from diesel. With most of its steam engines based in Carnforth in North West England, the ban had threatened to leave the firm unable to haul trains even in parts of the country that were unaffected. One locomotive in service when the clampdown was announced had been unable to return to base and was abandoned to York. Mr Shuttleworth said the spring had been the driest he had known since 1995, when the newly launched Jacobite service was forced to use diesels. Steam operators responded to months of bans at the time with measures to limit fire risk, including spark arresters and grills on engines. West Coast is now permitted to make its own decisions regarding appropriate traction for the Jacobite in conjunction with managers at Network Rail's Fort William depot. Mr Shuttleworth said: 'You've got to be responsible. It's also about accessibility and whether the fire brigade would be able to get to the site of a potential fire.' In Scotland and other upland areas, he said, there's also the risk of a lineside fire spreading to forestry plantations or seams of peat, with the latter potentially taking months to burn out. West Coast, like other operators, makes clear to passengers that there will be no refund in the event of steam engines being unable to run or breaking down. The reprieve came too late for the Northern Belle luxury dining train, which relied on diesel haulage over the Settle & Carlisle route on Saturday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Temperatures as low as 0C to send Scots shivering in this weekend's washout
It's going to be a cold and rainy spring bank holiday weekend, according to forecasts. Scots may have been able to enjoy some much-deserved sun over the past few weeks, with temperatures nearing a scorching 26C in some areas of the country. But the latest forecasts show an oncoming dramatic drop in the mercury as well as some serious rainfall- just in time for the spring Bank Holiday weekend. Weather maps from WX Charts, which use Met Desk data, show plummeting temperatures in the early hours of Friday, May 23, signalling a dramatic end to the weeks-long heatwave. In fact, temperatures in parts of the Highlands are forecast to reach as low as 0C during the night as we enter Friday morning. Throughout Friday, the weather maps show a max temperature for Scotland to reach a meagre 16C, almost 10C colder than the scorching mercury we've witnessed over this past heatwave. Auchincruive cracked the 25C barrier twice last week, and was even hotter than LA, but it seems this taste of paradise is about to come to an abrupt end. And the cold will be accompanied by some serious rainfall as the bank holiday weekend looks to be a total washout as well. Mark Sidaway, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "The high pressure that has been around for the last few weeks will slowly lose its grip on the UK this week, bringing a change to more unsettled conditions with many areas seeing rain or showers, ending the prolonged dry spell." Scotland can expect the brunt of the rainfall to start at around 12pm on Friday, bringing a damp end to the recent glorious weather, as the downpour is forecast to hit the west coast and the Western Isles as it moves in from the Atlantic. The weatherfront will then continue to move across the country, bringing much worse conditions for most of Scotland. By 9pm on Friday night, the majority of the mainland will be experiencing some form of rain, from drizzle to downpours. And while Friday appears to be the coldest and rainiest day, the rest of the weekend looks to be equally miserable, if not quite as cold. Saturday will welcome mild temperatures with a max of 18C in the east of Scotland, while the west will see cooler weather sitting between 14C and 16C. Saturday is also forecast to be slightly drier than the downpours we'll see on Friday. Sunday is to record even cooler temperatures of around 12C to 14C when the mercury is at its highest, and further wet weather, so those spectating or running the Edinburgh Marathon may want to look out their waterproofs. The Met Office released its long-range forecast for the period, saying: "As we head into the bank holiday weekend and following week, a change in weather type is expected as unsettled conditions develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. "Drier and brighter intervals are likely between systems but with showers, some of which could be heavy/thundery. "The wettest weather will tend to be toward the west." It comes after the Met Office announced it will from now on predict the UK's weather more accurately, thanks to its brand new supercomputer, which is particularly useful for more accurately predicting rainfall. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Exact time Scots to be battered with rain in bank holiday weekend washout
The heatwave is to abruptly end this weekend with widespread heavy showers across Scotland. Scots may have enjoyed the recent mini heatwave over the past few weeks, which brought temperatures well above 20C. But we should now brace ourselves for a huge rainy bank holiday washout, according to forecasters. Weather modelling maps by WXCharts, which uses Met Desk data, show a massive Atlantic weatherfront moving in from Friday. This is expected to bring relentless downpours that could dampen plans right through the weekend, reported the Mirror. Scotland's west coast is predicted to be deluged, with Glasgow also in for a wet few days. There are some parts of the weekend where the entire country is forecast for a soaking. Down south, major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Cardiff are expecting long spells of downpours. And the Met Office has warned that some of the rain will be "thundery". Scotland can expect the brunt of the washout to start at around 12pm on Friday, May 23, bringing a damp end to the recent glorious weather. At noon on Friday, the rain is forecast to hit the west coast and the Western Isles as it moves in from the Atlantic. The weatherfront will continue to move across the country bringing much worse conditions for most of Scotland. By 9pm on Friday night, the majority of the mainland will be experiencing some form of rain, from drizzle to downpours. While WX Charts predict a drier Saturday for Scotland, while the rest of the UK will continue being battered by showers, things take a wet turn for us on Sunday. The west coast is, again, expected to bear the brunt of the weatherfront, but there is also a band of rain across southern Scotland the Central Belt. This means those running or spectating the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday may want to look out some waterproofs. Monday, however, is set to be generally drier for the whole of the UK. There will still be showers throughout parts of Scotland, especially focused in the north west of the country, but these are unlikely to be as extreme as Friday's downpours. It comes as the Met Office released its long-range forecast for the period. The national forecaster said: "As we head into the bank holiday weekend and following week, a change in weather type is expected as unsettled conditions develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. "The change is likely to overspread most areas through Saturday, with many seeing spells of rain and low cloud, and it will feel humid. This will herald a changeable spell as further systems come east. "Drier and brighter intervals are likely between systems but with showers, some of which could be heavy/thundery. The wettest weather will tend to be toward the west." The Met Office's Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway added that the country should brace itself for "unsettled conditions." He said: "The high pressure that has been around for the last few weeks will slowly lose its grip on the UK this week, bringing a change to more unsettled conditions with many areas seeing rain or showers, ending the prolonged dry spell. "The change comes this weekend, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic, arriving from the west probably later on Friday and through Saturday. They will bring with them spells of rain, which may be heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places. "These conditions will gradually spread across the UK on Saturday, with Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday likely seeing sunshine and showers. "So, whilst the bank holiday won't be a complete washout, with some sunshine expected, this weekend represents a notable shift from the fine and settled weather pattern that has dominated so far this month." It comes after the Met Office announced it will from now on predict the UK's weather more accurately, thanks to its brand new supercomputer, which is particularly useful for more accurately predicting rainfall. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
