news mogaznews | Here comes the sun! Parts of England endured ZERO sunshine and rare freezing rain in the gloomiest February week in 50 years

Here comes the sun! Parts of England endured ZERO sunshine and rare freezing rain in the gloomiest February week in 50 years - but that's all set to change TODAY

By: dailymail Posted On: February 14, 2025 View: 94

Published: 20:08 EST, 13 February 2025 | Updated: 03:02 EST, 14 February 2025

Britain can rise and shine this morning as the gloomiest February week in half a century comes to an end.

Parts of the country have endured zero minutes of sunshine for seven consecutive days for the first time since 1979.

But forecasters promise the winds of change will blow in today – bringing much-needed brightness to lift the nation's spirits ahead of the weekend.

The glorious sun is finally expected cut through the clouds near the capital at around 7am on Friday.

Using data from the Met Office's observation site at Heathrow Airport, the national weather forecaster confirmed to MailOnline that yesterday was the seventh consecutive day when zero sunshine was recorded in London.

This is such an irregular thing to occur that amateur forecasters have suggested that the last time it happened was almost 50 years ago - in 1979.

According to the data, the last time it went above seven days without sunshine was in 1972 when it hit eight consecutive days.

The record for most days without sunshine in London was 13 days in 1959.

Using data from the Met Office's observation site at Heathrow Airport, the national weather forecaster confirmed to MailOnline that yesterday was the seventh consecutive day when zero sunshine was recorded in London

This is such an irregular thing to occur that amateur forecasters have suggested that the time it happened was almost 50 years ago in 1979

Looking ahead, the Met Office said of Friday: 'Rather cloudy and breezy across Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England with some rain and perhaps hill snow, reaching western Scotland later.

'Elsewhere frost clearing, then mostly fine. Remaining cold.'

But the forecaster said the weekend would not only bring sunshine for some, but warmer weather.

It said: 'Mostly dry, often cloudy and cold in the east and northeast.

'Weakening bands of rain and perhaps snow moving in from the west and southwest, where turning milder. Often breezy.'

Britons have also been warned to expect freezing rain over the coming days - a rare phenomenon which can bring down trees and ground planes.

The liquid precipitation freezes almost instantly when it strikes a cold surface, spreading out momentarily before encasing the surface in a layer of clear ice.

Freezing rain is unusual in Britain because of the very specific conditions required for it to form, but the Met Office says it could be seen today and this weekend.

An example of freezing rain bringing down power lines in Vladivostok in Russia in 2020

An F-4E fighter plane is seen during a snow and freezing rain test in South Korea in 2008

UK five-day weather forecast

Friday:

Rather cloudy and breezy across Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England with some rain and perhaps hill snow, reaching western Scotland later. Elsewhere frost clearing, then mostly fine. Remaining cold.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Mostly dry, often cloudy and cold in the east and northeast. Weakening bands of rain and perhaps snow moving in from the west and southwest, where turning milder. Often breezy.

Tuesday February 18-27:

The start of this period looks like being mostly dry and bright, but feeling cold with a brisk southeasterly breeze. However, during the second half of next week, frontal zones will make gradual and erratic progress east across all parts, bringing some rain, wind and notably milder conditions as winds come in from the Atlantic. Eastern or more especially southeastern parts will be last to see this change to milder conditions, but by the end of next week, all parts are expected to become much milder and more unsettled, These conditions are likely to persist into the following week, with spells of wet and windy weather likely for most parts, but interspersed with cooler, showery conditions. The possibility of some drier spells still exists though, especially towards the southeast.

Friday February 28-March 14:

There is still a very small chance of colder conditions lingering for a time at the start of this period, but it is much more likely that a milder and unsettled theme will dominate, with weather systems moving close to or across the UK. This will mean bands of rain and perhaps periods of strong winds spreading in from the west, interspersed with some drier and brighter interludes, but likely bringing above average rainfall amounts overall, especially towards the west. Temperatures are most likely to become close to or a little above average by early March.

The weight of the ice will often pose a danger given it can become heavy enough to fell trees or power cables, while turning roads or pathways into ice rinks.

Freezing rain - which is more common in the US - can also be hazardous for aircraft, given thick layers of ice can be difficult to clear from planes on the ground.

The conditions for it begin when precipitation first falls from a cloud as snow, then melts and becomes rain if it falls through warmer air before reaching the ground.

Then, if this falls through cold air again, the droplets can become 'supercooled' – meaning they are still in liquid form, despite their temperature being below zero.

When this 'supercooled' droplet hits the ground - which is also sub-zero - it spreads out slightly on landing and then freezes instantly, covering the surface in clear ice.

Met Office forecaster Honor Criswick said today would begin 'chilly' with outbreaks of rain slowly edging their way north-eastwards and a chance of snow across hills.

Into Friday night, the rain will move further east and bump into the colder air – with snow likely over higher ground in Scotland and northern England.

The Met Office said a few centimetres is possible in the Grampians and North Pennines, adding: 'Some snow and even some freezing rain could fall to lower levels for a time, though snow is unlikely to settle, and ice is not likely to be a widespread issue.'

As for the weekend, Ms Criswick said: 'We still have this battle between the high pressure in the East and low pressure in the West and as this brings in some frontal systems and some rain, it falls into that colder air. Still a chance we could see some snow, once again a risk of some freezing rain.

'And then we end up with a bit of a split between that colder air still across the northeastern part of the country - perhaps something a touch milder across the South West, but for many it's still going to be remaining cold.

'Perhaps more brightness on Saturday but still plenty of cloud around on Sunday. A chance we could see perhaps a little something a little bit milder as we head into next week.'