Another blustery weekend

Libby Greenhalgh gives her weather predicts for this coming weekend in the UK

Below: weather for Saturday 1200GMT



After the false start to the Spring Series last weekend we have a slightly more promising outlook for this weekend - slightly being the operative word! It will still be lively and more than likely the start of Hamble Warming Pans will be postponed to Sunday morning.

General Situation

Prevailing UK conditions dominate this weekend, with strong southwesterly flow moving a frontal system across the UK on Saturday. The weekend will start off with warm sector conditions - plenty of cloud, rain and drizzle with the wind about 25 30 knots from the south west. The wind will ease slightly and veer to the west on Sunday and the sun will even pop its head out. Conditions will remain fresh with wind strength a about 20 knots with gusts in reaching the low 30s.

Saturday

The wind speed will be 26 to 28 knots on average and gusting up to 35-40 knots from the south west. With the direction meaning it will be funnelling up Hamble River and the western end of the Solent, expect some lively (wind whistling!) conditions. The direction will remain fairly constant (or as constant as you get in Hamble River) across the Solent area throughout the morning and into early afternoon at around 220 deg. Around 1400 hrs the cold front approaching from the west will start to affect the area. Expect some of the strongest gusts and a fair bit of rainfall in the proceeding two hours. There will also be a slight squeeze on the wind strength as the front passes through nudging it up to 30 to 32 knots.

The cold front will clear the eastern edge of the Solent by 1600 hrs and the wind will veer from 220 deg towards 250 deg and the strength decreasing to around 20 knots.

Sunday

Sunday will see a brighter start with a showery and gusty day as conditions turn more unstable. The wind will be around 250 deg and 15 to 18 knots first thing but will be quickly increase and back, reaching 230 deg around midday and 20 to 24 knots. Across the afternoon the wind will gradually veer towards the west as an approaching organised band of showers pushes east reaching the Solent by 1600 hrs. There will be little change in the wind strength across the afternoon.

The key to Sunday will be the clouds. Expect some shifty conditions with large shower clouds developing producing, some pretty big gusts and shifts throughout the day. These will start to decay around 1700. So keep your eyes out of the boat for the clouds scooting over the race area.

Other websites to check out...
Latest Radar: www.metoffice.com/weather/europe/uk/radar/
Synoptic Charts: www.westwind.ch/?page=ukmb
Satellite Imagery: www.eumetsat.de/

For some actual wind and direction:
Isle of Wight - www.islandweather.co.uk/
SouthamptonWater- www.apbg09.dsl.pipex.com/met/mainframe.htm