Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

After a run of success thirty days in advance, the New Year has not turned out as expected. However, a full January forecast will follow tomorrow to subscribers. This week will begin very mild, windy and unsettled before settling down later as high pressure takes over. It will become less mild especially in the South, where overnight slight frost and patchy fog may be a feature by the weekend. Here’s your forecast:

Monday: Windy with gales perhaps severe in the North and West. Also some rain followed from the West by scattered blustery showers that reach East Anglia and the South East after dark. It will be very mild then colder, with the showers turning wintry over Scotland giving hill snow. Top temps 8 to 12C. Min temps 2 to 5C.

Tuesday: New Years Day sees sunny spells, but a cold wind brings blustery showers mostly to Scotland and North East England. These could be wintry in places giving hill snow, before fading. It will be fine after dark with a slight frost, before more rain moves into Ireland overnight. Max temps 4 to 7C. Min temps -2 to +2C.

Wednesday: Bright but cold in the East at first, but most parts become rather cloudy and see some rain. Amounts in the South should be small or showers, but winds freshen again everywhere with gales likely in the North. All parts become milder once more with temperatures rising slowly through the period to eventually reach 7 to 10C.

Thursday: Mild everywhere but breezy, with some rain or showers mostly in the North and West. Some bright weather though, mostly in the East and to the lee of hills. Winds should decrease overnight. Top temps 7 to11C. Min Temps 3 to 6C.

Friday: A pressure rise settles things down with lighter winds, although Ireland and West Scotland may still be breezier and somewhat changeable. Elsewhere it should be mainly dry with variable amounts of cloud. Max Temps 7 to 10C. Min temps 2 to 5C.

The Weekend: A few showers and breezier over Ireland, otherwise mainly dry with clear or sunny spells but variable cloud in generally light winds. Less mild by day, say max temps 5 to 8C. Colder where skies clear at night especially over England and Wales with a slight frost and patchy fog. Min temps say -1 to +4C.

THIS WEEKS WEATHER Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th December 2012

Increased solar activity will bring a more changeable, windy week, with occasional rain or showers. Although generally feeling cold, temperatures will vary, with brief insertions of Arctic air giving a few icy nights and mostly slight perhaps moderate frost. Exact timing of events however could be a little tricky. Here’s your forecast:

Monday: There could be early snow over parts of Scotland and in the East at first, before it turns somewhat milder from the West. All parts will be unsettled and breezier than of late, with rain clearing to scattered blustery showers that may continue to wintry on Scottish hills. Max temps say 5 to 9C. Min temps 1 to 4C.

Tuesday: Cloudy with occasional rain over England, Wales and Ireland, then clearer and colder from the North giving a slight frost overnight. Scotland and Northern Ireland should see early rain clearing to leave scattered wintry showers giving mostly hill snow. A frosty night should follow. Max temps 3 to 8C. Min temps -2 to +3C.

Wednesday: Sunny spells but cold with a raw wind at first. Also some wintry showers mostly in the East that fall as snow in places, mostly on hills. Becoming finer later and overnight, with a widespread frost. Max temps only 2 to 5C. Min temps -4 to 0C.

Thursday: A fine start in the East, before rain preceded by a little snow mostly on hills spreads from the West, although timing is uncertain at present. It should temporarily become milder although not feeling so, before it turns colder again over Scotland and Ireland with scattered wintry showers. Top temps 4 to 8C. Min temps -1 to +2C.

Friday: Perhaps some rain over England and Wales at first, otherwise probably brighter but rather cold with sunny spells. A slight frost in central and eastern areas after dark, before cloud perhaps increases again later in the night over Ireland and in the West bringing patchy rain. Max temps 3 to 6C. Min temps -1 to +3C.

The Weekend: Again timing is a problem, but probably breezy and unsettled with occasional rain. Turning much colder from the North by Sunday with scattered showers turning to snow on the North and on hills farther South. Top temps 5 to 8C falling to 2 to 4C. Min temps later should be between -1 and +2C.