Heavy rain has been predicted for much of Courier Country today but better weather is on its way.
Temperatures could reach as high as 12C this weekend, while the mercury could reach 17C in the south-east of England. This would make some parts of the UK hotter than Ibiza over the weekend.
After months of downpours and gale-force winds, the surge in temperatures will be a welcome sign spring is on its way. Although conditions will not be quite as balmy in Scotland, temperatures will peak early on Sunday afternoon.
A Met Office spokeswoman said that an area of high pressure building up over the south of the UK will lead to a meteorological north-south divide.
She said: “We’ve got some wet weather continuing for Scotland and the north and north-west of England and the drier weather in the south of England.
“There is an area of high pressure building to the south of the UK which is bringing more settled weather to the south and south east.”
She said weather would begin to improve over the course of the weekend.
“Saturday is looking a bit drier although there will be a few showers,” she said. “Sunday is looking more settled with less rain around.”
There are also hopes that the early part of next week could see temperatures rise still further.
The overall improvement does not mean winter is well and truly over, however.
“It is a little bit early to say there will be no more snow,” the spokeswoman said. “We’ve certainly got a more settled weather band more spring-like but you are more likely to see snow at Easter rather than Christmas.”
The improving weather will provide a welcome respite to parts of the UK that have been devastated by flooding over the past three months.