Warm then cooler, and generally staying unsettled

April has started as what seems to be the norm thesedays, with yet more rain, unsettled conditions and named-storms.

We have already had 98% of the average April rainfall in the first third of the month, confirms Oldham weather expert Jon Baylis. 

It’s been relentless and we are still yet to see a dry day this month.

As Jon said last week, it’s got to end sometime.

So are we on the cards for a beautiful May?

At this stage looking to mid-month and just after, there isn’t any concrete signs of it settling down, apart from the chance of an area of high pressure building.

We are getting the odd warmer day and when the sun’s out it does feel very pleasant indeed, but the rain keeps coming.

Having the odd dry day here and there is not good enough.

We need a prolonged dry spell, and Jon means at least 10 days, or our gardens will continue to look like swamps.

Here's Jon's latest in-depth forecast for Oldham:

Tomorrow (Thursday): A very mild start with temperatures into double-figures.

A morning of some bright or sunny spells and dry.

Cloud tending to increase into the afternoon.

We will have a warmer airflow, southwesterly, which will be gusty at times but it will lift the temperatures to the late-teens.

So despite the breeze it will feel quite warm. 

Max 18°C Min 11°C.

Friday: There might have been some rain overnight as a warm-front brings thicker cloud and this will leave a legacy of cloud which looks set to hang around for most of the day.

Unfortunately it might be thick enough at times for some drizzle.

Still mild and breezy but not as warm.

Some bright spells are possible later in the day. 

Max 16°C Min 11°C.

Weekend: Cooler and showery as low pressure moves in to dominate.

Saturday: It’s looking like a day of sunshine and showers.

Some of the showers, mostly into the afternoon, will be blustery and possibly heavy with hail and thunder.

Cooler air filtering in as the day wears on. 

Max 14°C Min 6°C.

Sunday: Another day of sunshine and showers, but hopefully the showers will become more scattered into the afternoon to allow more sunny spells to filter through.

Feeling cool though, especially in the breeze.

Max 11°C Min 5°C.

Outlook: Cool or even feeling cold early next week with showers.

Less cold as the week goes on but showers seem to remain, but, some models are showing settled weather later in the week.

It’s over a week away so Jon is not holding his breath!

Follow @ChadWeather on X for the latest forecasts and warnings.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.