UK weather: Temperature rollercoaster as chilly nights follow warm days

The UK experiences some of the largest daily temperature ranges in early spring due to a combination of factors.

In March and April, the sun is much higher in the sky and the days are longer, allowing more energy to be delivered more efficiently. However, after the long winter, the ground and lower atmosphere remain cold, allowing rapid cooling during the night.

Clear skies beneath spring high-pressure systems can further enhance this contrast.

At night, warmth quickly disappears, and until spring equinox, nights are still longer than days, resulting in cold mornings.

As the sun rises during the day, the same sunny skies allow for rapid warming due to the sun being more directly overhead, leading to hot afternoons.

Dry air heats and cools more quickly than moist air, which can expand the temperature range even further.

These factors combine to increase our daily temperature range in the early stages of spring, especially in sunny weather with light winds.