Here is a summary of the latest NWP output for noon on Saturday. Issued
0610z, 8/06/04.

ECMWF: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Recm1201.html
High pressure covers Biscay, with westerlies across the UK. The winds become
WNW'lies at T+144 as the high builds to the SW, followed by more westerlies
and WNW'lies at T+168 with the high moving slowly WNW'wards.

MetO: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Rukm1201.html
A ridge lies over the North Sea, from a high to the south of the UK.
Westerlies and WSW'lies are the result, as is the case for most at T+144 as
the high moves over SW England.

GFS: http://64.246.48.81/pics/Rtavn1201.gif
WSW'lies and SW'lies cover the UK, with high pressure to the NW of Biscay.
850hPa temperatures range from +5C over East Anglia to +11C over SW England.
The high builds over southern England at T+144, bringing westerlies and
WSW'lies over the UK. The high moves away to the west at T+168, allowing
WNW'lies and northerlies to cover the UK. The high builds to the west of the
UK on day 8, with a mixture of NW'lies, northerlies and NE'lies for the UK.
Cooler air moves over the UK on day 9, as the high to the west brings a
continuation of northerlies and NW'lies. Day 10 sees NW'lies, with the high
now to the WSW of the UK.

GEM: http://www.meteocentre.com/models/glb00_120.html
A large high extends from east of the Azores to the Bay of Biscay, with
westerlies and SW'lies for the UK. 850hPa temperatures vary from +6C over NE
Scotland to +10C over SW England. Westerlies cover the UK at T+144 as the
high builds to the west of Biscay.

JMA: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Rjma1201.html
As with the other runs, high pressure is close to the UK - this time over
western France, with SW'lies and westerlies over the UK. 850hPa temperatures
range from +3C across NE Scotland to +10C over Northern Ireland. There's
little change at T+144, although the high moves slowly NE'wards. By T+168
the UK lies under westerlies, with the high by now becoming a ridge over
northern France. Day 8 sees NW'lies and WNW'lies, as high pressure builds to
the north of the Azores.

In summary, the runs show another very warm if not hot spell approaching for
England and Wales over the weekend and for the beginning of next week, but
beyond that both the JMA and GFS show signs of the high retrogressing.
Indeed, the GFS eventually brings sub-freezing 850hPa air over parts of
England, but that's a *long* way out and will most likely change. As ever,
more runs are needed.