Dry Halloween night ahead as Birmingham could see ten days without rain

Birmingham could go as long as ten days without rain, as high pressure settles over the UK after the stormiest end to October in years. The dry spell starts with a largely dry Halloween evening, but foggy mornings will be a feature of the days ahead.

After the storms, a settled spell

The UK was hit by its first named storms of the season, Austen and Bóelo, just a week ago. According to the Environment Agency, the rain from both storms, along with another area of low pressure on Monday, made it the wettest week across the UK for two years.

Now high pressure is returning, bringing a prolonged spell of largely dry, calm weather with light winds and very little rain in sight, according to BBC Weather.

Halloween night

Anyone heading out trick-or-treating this evening should stay largely dry, with skies clear for most of the UK as darkness falls and light winds. A few spells of rain could affect the Western Isles of Scotland, a long way from Birmingham.

With clear skies, it will feel chilly, so a warm layer under the costume is a good idea. A torch or something reflective will also help children be seen as they go from door to door after dark.

Fog in the mornings

Mist and fog will be a persistent feature, with some dense patches slow to clear in the mornings. These could reduce visibility and cause travel disruption. Once the fog lifts, brighter spells should develop, although some low cloud may linger in places.

Drivers should allow extra time, use dipped headlights in fog and leave a bigger gap to the vehicle in front.

Turning cooler

Temperatures are expected to edge gradually lower over the coming days, bringing a cooler feel, especially at night and in the early morning. Gardeners may want to keep an eye on tender plants as the nights get colder.

Change by mid-November

High pressure is expected to stay over or close to the UK for at least ten days. Around the middle of November, there are signs it could loosen its hold, allowing Atlantic low-pressure systems to bring wetter and windier weather again, with most areas probably seeing average or above-average rain.

The recent rain was much needed, but it has not ended the drought affecting large parts of England, so the dry spell ahead means water will remain precious. For now, though, Birmingham can look forward to some crisp, bright autumn days once the fog clears, ideal for enjoying the autumn colours in the city's parks.