Despite the country firmly being in spring season it looks as though it will still be a few weeks before the forecast properly reflects that, with the Met Office not anticipating warmer temperatures quite yet. After a fairly wet April temperatures have dropped in the last week of the month, with the forecaster saying it is "still on the chilly side for the time of year".
However, temperatures are slowly creeping up, as a "significant spring heatwave" is expected with highs of 40°C for parts of Europe. BBC Weather's look ahead for the week is showing warmer temperatures over the parts UK, and highs of 40°C in parts of Spain by Thursday.
Forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas says: "A significant spring heatwave is likely to build across parts of Europe later this week. While we have got colder Arctic air piling across Scandinavia and eastern Europe, the air down towards Portugal and Spain is coming in from the Sahara and with high pressure in charge temperatures are really going to build later this week. Could see 40°C in Spain beating the current high for April of 37°C."
Read more: 'Significant' spring heatwave on the way with highs of 40°C for parts of Europe
It won't be quite that warm for Wales, but the outlook for the end of the week from the Met Office does say it will be "less cold" and maps show temperatures in Cardiff will rise from 7°C on Monday to around 15°C by Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures are slowly rising to where they are expected to be at this time of the year.
This is the long-range weather forecast for the UK from The Met Office as temperatures rise:
Saturday April 29 to Monday May 8
"Cloud is expected to be patchy leading into this weekend, with low cloud possible over the western hills particularly in the mornings. A few showers may develop throughout Saturday across central and western areas, with the chance of thunder later on across Northern Ireland.
"Moving into May, weak bands of rain will mostly decay as they progress eastwards, acting as a focus for diurnal afternoon showers that mainly affect the central and east of England. The remaining period brings fairly settled conditions pushing in from the southwest, with plenty of dry and mild weather across the UK. Generally temperatures are near or slightly above average, with the maxima in the high teens in the south of England."
Tuesday May 9 to Tuesday May 23
"Potentially becoming more changeable by the second week of May with a greater chance of rain compared to earlier in the month. Confidence in the forecast is low as we move into the second half of May, with fairly equal chances of fine or more unsettled weather. Temperatures more likely to be above average overall."
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