Wetter weather could arrive later this month
Warm, sunny weather will continue this weekend(Image: Met Office)
Glorious sunshine looks set to bask over Greater Manchester again this weekend – but a change is on the horizon.
There has been plenty of warm, sunny weather across the country this spring, with weeks of almost-constant blue skies since March.
Temperatures have regularly hovered around 20C and beyond, hitting the high 20s in parts of the UK on numerous occasions over the last few weeks.
The North West has seen its driest start to a year for almost a century – leading to reservoir levels plummeting.
Similar conditions are expected this weekend and at the beginning of next week in Greater Manchester, according to the latest Met Office forecast.
Highs of 22C are forecast today (May 16), on Sunday and next Wednesday, with top temperatures of 21C on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
Conditions will be mostly clear and sunny throughout those days, although the Met Office expects an overcast start to Saturday, clearing up by late morning.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Forecasters expect conditions to change later this month though – and there could be a noticeable shift in weather from next Thursday.
The latest Met Office forecast says Greater Manchester will see more cloud cover from Thursday, with sunny intervals rather than wall to wall clear skies.
That pattern looks set to continue heading into next weekend, with Friday forecast to be mostly cloudy, with a 30 per cent chance of rain in the early hours of the morning.
Temperatures will still be warm however, with highs of 20C and 19C forecast for those two days.
And overnight conditions could be stuffier, with lows rising from 7C this weekend to 11C next Thursday night.
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
Across the UK, the Met Office says people can expect to see a firm change in conditions by the end of the month with wetter weather on the way – although temperatures will still be warm for this time of year.
The latest long-range forecast for May 20 to 29 says: “Most of the UK will be fine with sunny spells during the first part of this period. A few showers are possible in the south at first but otherwise the majority of places will be dry.
“Temperatures are likely to be above normal for the time of year. Into the bank holiday weekend and following week, a change in weather type is expected.
“More unsettled conditions are likely to develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. This will bring spells of rain to many areas, perhaps heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places.
“Some drier and brighter intervals are likely between systems. Temperatures will probably be near normal or slightly above.”