Weather and climate change

Headline:

Persistent rain for parts of southwest England, showers elsewhere.

Today:

Persistent rain continuing parts of southwest England, chilly here. Elsewhere a mix of sunny spells and showers, heaviest of these across the Midlands into east Wales and over Northern Ireland with the risk of thunder. Generally cloudier in the northeast.

Tonight:

Showers dying out for most of the UK though still some rain for parts of central and southern England and south Wales. Cool in the north.

Friday:

Mostly dry and fine but fairly cloudy for eastern and northern parts. Wales, southern England and Northern Ireland seeing sunny spells and showers - heavy and thundery in Northern Ireland.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Sunny spells and showers, often heavy with a risk of thunder, becoming increasingly widespread. Light winds, moderate to fresh in the far south. Temperatures a little below average overall.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 13 May 2021

It will most likely be remaining unsettled throughout the period, with Sunday seeing sunny spells and thundery showers. Coastal parts of eastern Scotland and northeast England may also remain rather cloudy and misty. Temperatures still a little below average for most. The north will perhaps see the best of any more settled weather, with the south most likely to see the bulk of showers and thunderstorms and any longer spells of more persistent rain. It's likely to be breezy at times, especially around coastal areas in the south and west of the country. Temperatures will be near to or slightly below average, with the best of any warmer spells in the southeast, and with the formation of any overnight frosts becoming less likely.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 13 May 2021

Confidence remains low for this period, although typical spring weather patterns are most probable, with a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some thundery, for most parts of the UK, especially at first. Conditions will probably become more settled late May and going into June, with an increasing likelihood of drier conditions for many. Overall, the driest and most settled conditions are most probable in the south, with the north generally more unsettled as longer spells of rain and strong winds arrive from the Atlantic at times. Temperatures likely to be around average.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 13 May 2021