"Just for fun", I have put together a "Farmer's Forecast" for the UK over the week ahead, starting from today (Sat 5th Nov) . . .
It's all experimental stuff and bear in mind that all this are based on looking at the charts and model outputs (no cheating by looking at the telly and "official" web sites).
So, here goes . . .
As far as today and tonight are concerned, Indeed, most of England will get to see extensive cloud cover and there will be outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, especially over the South East. Just perhaps there may be the odd localised heavy burst of rain somewhere over Central parts at around noon time and into the early afternoon.
However, as we go into tonight, most of that drizzly stuff will actually start to peter away but it will stay quite cloudy nonetheless.
Its really the South West of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of Scotland that will get to see the best of any brightness today, and that will lead to a night of clear spells and variable cloud amounts for the above mentioned areas.
Temperatures will continue to be at around average values at 8 C North to around 13 C South today, then falling to as low as 3 C under any clear skies over the North (which may allow for patchy frost to set in) but continuing mild at around 11 C South tonight.
Tomorrow (Sunday), Southern and Eastern parts of England will continue to keep the rather extensive cloud cover but it will stay largely dry and perhaps there may be the odd chink of brightness before dusk.
Again, its really South West England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of Scotland that will continue to pick up the best of any bright spells.
Once again, temperatures will stick close to average values at 13 C South to around 8 C.
That should lead to a night of clear spells and variable cloud amounts for most parts, although the South East is likely to stay overcast.
That will tend to make for a somewhat cooler night for most parts as it ranges from 4 C North to around 8 C South, but I cant see any frost setting in just yet, save for perhaps in sheltered
Scottish glens.
As we begin a brand new working week, high pressure will form over the bulk of the UK. While that does sound quite pleasant in its own right, but at this time of the year it wont be all sunshine and mild temperatures everywhere.
So, as far as Monday is concerned, while it is true that things will be more settled and drier across the UK, it does look like the South East will continue to hold onto the cloudy stuff. At the same time more in the way of extensive cloud cover will creep in from the Atlantic to affect the far North West of Scotland.
But other than that, indeed it will be dry just about everywhere with Northern and Western England and Southern Scotland will continue to pick up the best of any sunshine.
Once again, daytime temperatures will continue to stick close to average values at 9 C to 13 C across the UK.
Since that will lead to a settled night involving clear spells and variable cloud amounts, that may allow local mist and fog to form inland, with perhaps localised ground frosts as temperatures fall as low as 3 C (mild around the coast at 8 C to 11 C).
On Tuesday, high pressure will continue to stick close by, but with an Atlantic weather front wanting to edge in from the west, the UK will be under whats called a Col type situation (a no-mans land in between areas of high pressure and low pressure).
With that in mind and what with winds being very light, any mist and fog about from the night will take its time in clearing away across most Central parts - something to bear in mind if you are doing county-to-county driving on that day.
While there will still be a good deal of cloud over over Southern and Eastern parts, its really the Western side of the UK as well as Northern Scotland that stands the best chance of picking up any brightness, especially if winds start to pick up there.
Temperatures will continue to be average for this time of year at 8 C to 13 C.
However, as we go into the night, it does look like the Atlantic frontal stuff to the West of the UK will then try and edge its way towards the UK, thus will cause cloud to increase over Western parts while Eastern parts will have a night of clear spells and variable cloud amounts.
However, the risk of any fog and frost will be greatly reduced at this point, especially since it will be that little bit milder at 7 C North to as high as 14 C South.
Wednesday is where we start to lose the settled spell of weather as an Atlantic front will try and edge eastwards to affect more of the Western side of the UK with increased cloud and then eventually some rain.
But even at this point, with high pressure still sticking close by over the near Continent, I suspect rain
amounts will be quite small and if anything, the Eastern side of the UK will remain dry and even carry on picking up bright spells.
Things will continue to be mild at 8 C North to as high as 16 C South.
As we go into the night, the weather front, already bringing some rain to the Western side of the UK will edge slowly and painfully eastwards to try and get to the other side of the UK. With that in mind, it does look like being a cloudy night with outbreaks of rain mostly light stuff for most parts.
It wont be a particularly cold night with minimums of 5 C North to around 11 C South.
Thursday is where this Atlantic front will try and get to the Eastern side of the UK, but by then it will be a much decayed feature giving off very little in the way of rain. Although, that said, Southern Scotland may pick up some significant rain before the front moves on out into the North Sea.
At the same time, it will brighten up and become drier again over the West.
Once again, temperatures will continue to be very much on the mild side, getting up to as high as 15 C South East, between 8 C to 13 C elsewhere.
As we go into the night, it does look like another band of cloud with some rain will edge in from the west to make things turn wet and unsettled to Western parts before the night is out.
However, the East will remain dry with some clear spells.
Minimum temperatures at 4 C North to around 9 C South.
Friday is likely to see a two-way split over the UK with the Western side becoming wet with some rain while the Eastern side will stay dry with the best of any brightness.
With winds continuing to come in from the South, it will continue to stay very mild at 8 C North to around 13 C South.
Im quite confident that the mild trend with the UK being split in two weather-wise (wet West and remaining dry and bright East) looks set to continue into the weekend.
Summary for the week ahead: Southern and Eastern parts often staying dry, becoming bright after a cloudy start. Fog risk on Tuesday, though.
Dry and bright at first over Western UK and Scotland, then turning unsettled there in the second half of the week.
Now, dare I say it, but at least it will be mild the whole time.
And there you have it, thats my very own thoughts for the week ahead!