TRENDS for the week of 25 to 31 Mar 2021 --
-- Temperatures will average 1 to 2 deg below normal, but briefly milder around Sunday-Monday.
-- Rainfalls will probably total near normal amounts in the west, but only about half that in the east.
-- Sunshine will be rather infrequent and 50 to 75 per cent of normal amounts, wind speeds will be fairly typical of this time of year except for some stronger gusts on Friday and Saturday.
FORECASTS
TONIGHT will become windy with some heavy showers and risk of a thunderstorm, then after some partial clearing, mixed wintry showers may set in over parts of the west and north by morning. Lows 2 to 4 C. Winds southwest to west 50 to 80 km/hr.
FRIDAY will be windy and cold with outbreaks of sleet or wet snow in parts of the north and west, heavier on high ground where some snow could accumulate. Mixed wintry showers including hail and thunder will be prevalent in the east and south. Winds westerly 50 to 80 km/hr, highs only 5 to 9 C.
SATURDAY will remain quite windy, with some clear intervals at first, morning lows 1 to 4 C, then not as cold by afternoon and evening as southwest winds rise to about 70 to 110 km/hr, intervals of rain likely especially over the west and north where 10-20 mm possible. Highest temperatures by evening 11 to 14 C.
SUNDAY will remain breezy and mild across the south, with a significant temperature gradient across the northern counties, temperatures steady 10 to 13 C south, 8 to 10 C central, and 5 to 8 C north. Some rain at times near this frontal boundary. Winds not as strong but steady in the 40 to 70 km/hr range from southwest (more westerly in the cooler north).
MONDAY will be quite mild especially across the south where 14 to 16 C is possible, with the frontal divide still in place and readings closer to 8 C further north. Occasional showers although the front will be drying out to just a band of mid-level cloud eventually. A little breezy at times in the south.
TUESDAY will see colder air pushing in from the north and spreading to the south coast during the afternoon, with falling temperatures in most regions, ending up around 3 C north, 7 C south. Winds turning northerly 30 to 50 km/hr and isolated showers in partly cloudy skies.
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY will be cool and dry with slight frosts possible and highs 7 to 10 C. There could be some sunny breaks. Around Thursday night an even colder air mass will arrive from the arctic on north to northeast winds that may become quite gusty at times on GOOD FRIDAY (2nd April) and then it will remain quite cold through the EASTER WEEKEND with highs all three (or four) days near 5 C and chance of mixed wintry showers in strong north to northeast winds, some frosts at night also. This cold spell appears likely to moderate gradually during the week after Easter.
Peter for IWO