Here is a summary of the latest NWP output for noon on Friday. Issued 0601z,
19/04/04.

ECMWF: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Recm1201.html
High pressure covers England and Wales, bringing SW'lies further north. The
high builds over the UK at T+144, merging with a large high to the north of
Scandinavia. Light winds cover the whole of the UK, followed by light
easterlies, southerlies and westerlies at T+168 as the high continues to
build over the UK.

MetO: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Rukm1201.html
The Met Office run shows high pressure over the Netherlands, Belgium and the
southern North Sea. SW'lies and WSW'lies cover the UK, followed by SSW'lies
for all at T+144 as the high moves slowly eastwards.

GFS: http://64.246.48.81/pics/Rtavn1201.gif
A ridge covers the North Sea, from a high over Finland. SSW'lies are the
result for most of the UK, lightest over southern areas of the UK. 850hPa
temperatures vary from +3C over SE England to +6C across Scotland and
Northern Ireland. The ridge builds over the UK at T+144, with a mixture of
southerlies and easterlies; much the same is true at T+168 as the high
recentres over southern Scandinavia. The high declines slightly on day 8,
with the UK still under a ridge, before the high continues moving SW'wards
to cover the UK on day 9. Day 10 sees the high sink SW'wards, with
westerlies and northerlies for the UK.

GEM: http://www.meteocentre.com/models/glb00_120.html
The Canadian run shows moderate SW'lies over the UK, with a low south of
Iceland and high pressure over France and Germany. The winds become WSW'lies
at T+144 as the high builds.

JMA: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Rjma1201.html
SW'lies cover the UK, with high pressure over France. 850hPa temperatures
range from +1C over the Western Isles to +8C over much of England. The
SW'lies continue at T+144 and for Scotland and Ireland at T+168. By then, a
weak ridge covers England and Wales, bringing westerlies there. A ridge
affects the UK on day 8, with westerlies for all.

In summary, the models continue to show warmer conditions for the weekend,
although they're split as the the position of the high. The GFS and ECM show
the Scandinavian High having a large effect on the UK, keeping many areas
settled, whereas the MetO keeps the high to the SE, with less settled
weather for northern and western areas. As ever, more runs are needed.