SPRING FLING! Defiant Brits hail arrival of tulip season as Met Office promises brighter spells after morning washout

WHO: Commuters and weekend planners

WHAT: Rain moving east followed by heavy showers and sun

WHERE: Across the UK

WHEN: Friday 20/02/2026

WHY: A weather system clearing to the east to leave unsettled conditions

Exhausted families are clinging to hope this morning as the Met Office reveals that a few glorious brighter spells are set to pierce through the gloom of a soggy Friday.

Hope blooms amid brighter spells

The British public is officially on spring watch today as the Met Office confirmed that while the morning is a washout, the clouds will eventually part for some much-needed brighter spells.

Forecaster Alex Deakin warned that further outbreaks of rain will march eastwards throughout the morning, but the afternoon offers a glimmer of relief with a mix of sun and heavy showers.

"I feel SPRING!!" one excited resident cried, spotting the first signs of the season despite the biting February air.

For many who have been trapped indoors by the "grey rinse cycle," the prospect of even a few minutes of sun has sparked a wave of optimism across social media.

Shower dodging after brighter spells

Despite the upbeat mood, the reality of the British winter remains a challenge for those trying to enjoy the outdoors.

In Bicester, one walker managed to get out for the first time in weeks, reporting dry but cloudy conditions while bracing for the inevitable. "Looks like I will be having to dodge the showers again this afternoon," they noted, after thanking the Met Office for the timely update.

Others took a more cynical view of the persistent unsettled patterns, with one observer sarcastically remarking that "showers and clouds" are a "really unusual" occurrence for our rain-soaked island.

While the morning rain continues its journey east, the afternoon's brighter spells are being hailed as a "tres profesional" end to the working week for a nation desperate to see the back of winter.

Whether the tulips are truly ready to bloom remains to be seen, but for now, the advice is to keep the raincoat handy for those heavy bursts between the sunshine.

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