January

January will have a mild start but will feel chilly with westerly winds of 20mph. High pressure will form around January 3 and there will be freezing fog on the M25. The wind will feel bitterly cold at 25mph near the east coast, where wintry showers will develop from January 6. Northerly winds will blow further inland and snow may accumulate, especially on higher ground. Low pressure will bring bands of rain from January 11, making flash floods in low-lying parts possible. A mild spell will be followed by easterly winds, bringing wintry showers and freezing day-time temperatures. Sub-zero day temperatures have become quite rare but I feel we could get three in a row from January 16 to January 19. There will be up to 10cm (4ins) of snow, and possibly more over Thanet. Milder air will take over by January 22. Winds of up to 60mph will make January 25 the windiest Burn’s Day since 1990. A mild sunny spell will follow, feeling quite spring-like. Temperatures will be in the mid-50s (about 12C). Fog may form in river valleys but frost seems unlikely.

Rainfall will be variable, ranging from 125mm to 65mm or less.

February

February will have a mild cloudy start with a light southerly breeze. Low pressure will bring bands of rain, which will give way to cool bright weather with a north west breeze and localised frost. Temperatures will be around 8C (46F), close to average. There will be a short sharp shock around February 6 as strong north winds, close to gale force, bring a wind chill of -10C (14F). The air temperature will be around 1C (34F) and it will be predominantly cloudy. This spell could last up to February 11 when there will be wintry showers, mostly close to the North Sea coasts. Winds will be moderate and skies clear, with cold frosty nights and beautiful sparkling days. Night temperatures will drop to -12C (10F). Mild air will follow, and the weather will become unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain. The warmest day of the year so far – at 16C (61F) in London and Gravesend – will be February 19. Minimum temperatures will stay above 10C (50F). Fog may form after February 24 and will be slow to clear from river valleys, where the temperature will be down to 7C (45F). Strong southerly winds will bring showers at the end of the month. It will remain mild.

Rainfall will be 35-45mm.

March

March will have a damp, breezy start with winds of 20mph from the south. Low pressure from the Atlantic will bring bands of rain, driven through by a strong south westerly wind that will gust near gale force in the Channel. Temperatures will be about 10C (50F), a little above normal. High pressure will form around March 6 with easterly winds making it feel cold. There will be slate grey skies with drizzle and temperatures of 6C (43F). Nights will be cloudy so there will be no frost. High pressure will intensify and cloud will break up after March 11, with calm winds from the east. Fog will form at early morning and there will be frosts. It will feel pleasant in the strengthening March sunshine and temperatures will be around 10C (50F). Low pressure will take over from March 21. It will become quite warm but showers may become thundery with the possibility of hail. By March 23 the temperature will be 17C (63F) but by March 26 it will drop to 10C (50F). There will be frost in rural parts and low pressure will give March a wild and wet end.

Rainfall will be around 45-55mm.

Sunshine will be 120 hours.

April

April will have a wet, windy start with the temperature about 11C (52F). It will be sunny with a chilly easterly breeze but there will not be a repeat of the April snow of 2007, when Kent got up to 15cm. High pressure will continue to dominate but it will become cloudy and turn cold. Temperatures will sink to a chilly 8C (46F). Low pressure will form, with milder southerly winds. There will be some showery rain mixed in with warm sunshine and the temperature will be 15C (59F). It will become warmer through the Easter holiday reaching 20C (68F) by Easter Sunday but the warmth will set off some thundery activity and localised hail. There could also be squally winds and tornadoes that may make the headlines, that will be followed by an unsettled spell with heavy rain from April 19. It will be quite warm at 16C (61F). After April 23 the wind will mainly be easterly and there will be cloud and fog on the North Sea coast. There will be low pressure, bringing showers, at the end of the month.

April’s rainfall will be around 40mm. Sunshine will be up greatly, to 200 hours.

May

May will have a warm showery start but high pressure will develop from May 3. It will be quite bright and cool with a northwesterly wind. However, the Channel coast will be warm with temperatures up to 20C (68F) and it will be close to the normal 16C (61F) inland - quite nice for the bank holiday. A deep area of low pressure will spread bands of heavy rain, becoming unusually windy and temperatures will drop to 12C (54F) around May 7. High pressure will take over from May 10 but it will be cloudy despite warm temperatures of 18C (64F). The first ten days of May last year were the warmest since 1772. Cloud will break up from May 16 and it will become humid with thundery activity around May 18. The weather will remain in an unsettled mode and turn cooler, with temperatures down to 15C (59F). High pressure will return after May 26 when it will become unseasonably cold at night; down to 0C (32F) in many places. Winds will be cool and northwesterly but things will warm up quite nicely for the end of the month, although too late for the bank holiday on May 25.

Rainfall will be 25mm, but could rise to 60mm if storms occur. Sunshine will be 175 hours.