Just over 7 days ago, temperatures over many parts of the country were very cool and there were thoughts of a prolonged winter.

This week and weekend has seen a considerable climb in daytime highs and overnight lows and are perhaps more reflective of early to mid September rather than the end of July and beginning of August.

Westerlies have been the main reason for the milder air and although are series of fronts are embedded in the flow, not too much cold air follows each front, although parts of the west and the far south may beg to differ at times!.

A similar trend occurred leading into winter where weeks of balmy temperatures preceded a wintry spell and it all took place over a very short period of time.

It isn’t the end of cold, wintry days overall but longer days do make it all a little more bearable when the warmth of the sun is on our backs.