================================================== ===============
This forecast summary is my *PERSONAL OPINION* of how the weather may unfold
next week. I will take no responsibility whatsoever for any actions arising from
its use. It is provided freely in the spirit of freedom and the great love for
meteorology that I personally enjoy and wish to share freely with others.
================================================== ===============

Summary valid for Sunday 04/04/04 to Easter Monday 12/04/04
TOI (time of issue) Friday 02/04/04 1900 UK local time This summary is based
on a quick appraisal of the GFS, JMA, ECMWF, UKMO, FAX, and ENS (NCEP ensemble)
labelled charts available from the superb http://www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten

High confidence that the Easter holiday will be cold and windy with spells of
rain, sleet and snow with overnight frosts in places.
For the first part of the week till Wednesday a complex area of low pressure
will track SE from Iceland to southern Norway and all areas will be in a cool
northwesterly airflow. Western and northern areas will have sunny spells and
showers, some prolonged at times. Some showers will be heavy with hail and snow
over the Scottish mountains. Winds will be fresh to strong west to northwest.
More sheltered southern and eastern areas will tend to have fine mornings but
also some showers in the afternoons with hail and thunder at times. Showers
tending to die away overnight but with frost in sheltered places.

On thursday another depression will develop near Iceland and track southeast
towards Scotland bringing rain and hill snow and perhaps gales into Scotland and
northern Ireland during the day. England and Wales could end up mainly dry with
some sunshine and only one or two showers.

However, on Good Friday rain and gales will spread south to all areas and as it
turns colder a spell of snow on hills above 400m is likely over northern
Britain. Possibly sleet and wet snow to lower levels but not sticking.

On Easter Saturday and Sunday a low pressure area is likely to become centred
over Britain with spells of rain or showers in all areas. Windy too but with
gales easing as time goes on. Many showers likely to be heavy with hail,
thunder, snow pellets, sleet and wet snow and again more persistent snow cover
above 400m. Heavy rain or snow could cause problems to transport and other
utilities.

On Easter Monday winds will swing into the east perhaps bringing blizzards to
the Scottish Higlands for a time before it brightens and becomes drier in
Scotland later. Elsewhere continuing cold and showery with variable winds.

Trend for the rest of the week up till Saturday 17/04/04 is for it to become
drier with long sunny periods as pressure builds from the north but possibly a
stiff east wind. Staying cold with wiidespread frosts at night, so growers
beware. Confidence moderate for turning drier again.

As always this and previous forecasts are available at
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/weeklydiscussions.htm

This forecast was brought to you from Met. Office Dartmoor without the help of a
celebrity :-)

Cheers,

Will.
Chief forecaster USW
--

" A cup is most useful when empty "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A COL BH site in East Dartmoor at Haytor, Devon 310m asl (1017 feet).

mailto:
www: http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk

DISCLAIMER - All views and opinions expressed by myself are personal
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------