'A complex depression over Atlantic with deepening secondary south of Ireland moving NNE quickly. It will be mild and rather cloudy over Wales, west Midlands and southern Ireland with a few bright periods at first followed by mild conditions, but a further belt of rain soon reaching west England and Wales will move across the country giving rather prolonged rain in North England but clearing all eastern districts by tomorrow with fair periods and scattered showers following. In North Ireland and Scotland there will be periods of rain with local sleet in North Scotland, milder conditions will reach all areas except extreme North of Scotland. There will be much fog and poor visibility over northern half of England, south and central Scotland' After several attempts in the last couple of weeks it looks as if the milder air is finally going to displace the cold air which has been over the British Isles since the third week of January-but what a slow process. At Midnight-warm front London to NW Scotland and further occlusion Dorset to N.Ireland both moving NE. Small depression SW of Ireland moving quickly NE. Cloudy everywhere with temperatures still close to or just below freezing from E.Anglia/Midlands northwards. Rain in SW, sleet in central areas but snow still falling in parts of NE England and Scotland. W.Freugh still reporting blowing snow. At 06GMT-warm front now E.Essex to Skye and occlusion W.London to Islay moving NE. Another warm front has appeared lying Beachey Head to S.Cornwall moving N'wards. Milder conditions are now a little further north. Rain in southern areas with sleet and snow in north but now more scattered. At Midday-milder air now well north with E.Anglia and Midlands now showing the higher temperatures. By 18GMT- the temperature distribution show that colder air has slipped back southwards over the northern half of Ireland with 'continuous moderate snow' at Aldergrove and 'blowing snow' at Collinstown. Precipitation- (21h-21h)-10mm to 15mm in many districts. Particularly wet in Ireland, 30mm at Collinstown and 55mm at Roches Point. Overnight minima-Rattray coldest on 23°F (-5.0°C) and S.Cornwall warmest on 45°F (7.2°C) Daytime maxima- Croydon warmest on 57°F (13.9°C), which is significantly warmer than the maximum of 35°F (1.7°C) on the previous day. Lowest max was 36°F (2.2°C) at Acklington, Lerwick and Dalwhinnie. Snow cover/depth-by 18GMT the only significant lying snow reported for England and Wales was 5" at Waddington and 9" at Acklington. Scottish stations still reporting lying snow with the deepest at Lerwick (13") and N.Ireland reports snow lying. Wind-as the secondary depression moved across England and Wales there was a widespread and severe gale. At 18GMT Boscombe Down, Cranfield, Honiley, Fairwood, Pembroke and Aberporth all reported F9 whilst Exeter reported W'y F10. (Mildenhall registered 98mph and Cardington (Beds) 93mph).