Weather and climate change

Headline:

Wet and windy at times. Milder.

This Evening and Tonight:

Rain in the northwest, heavy on hills, extending to southern and eastern parts. Windy, with gales on coasts and hills at first. Mild for most.

Friday:

Southern areas cloudy with rain at first. Brighter, showery weather in the northwest spreading to all parts by afternoon. Some of the showers heavy with hail and thunder.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Some bright spells Saturday, but becoming wet and windy overnight. Heavy, blustery showers on Sunday with gales. Mainly fine on Monday, breezy, showers in the east at first. Rather cold.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

After a cold night, wet and windy weather will arrive in the west by dawn before quickly spreading east across the UK. Most areas will see rain throughout the day, with transient hill snow in the north. Rain will clear most places later to leave blustery, heavy showers. The unsettled theme is likely to continue into next weekend with showers or longer spells of rain throughout. Any drier interludes are likely to be short-lived in any one place. Temperatures look likely to dip below normal, allowing for an increased risk of wintry showers further north. There is also a low risk of widespread snow on the northern edge of rain bands. Strong winds are possible across the UK, especially further south. Frost and freezing fog possible, particularly in the north.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

A more changeable spell is expected during this period, with the greatest potential for heavy rain in the south and east at first, with any snow becoming confined to northern hills. A more typical northwest/southeast split looks likely to develop with time bringing rain to the northwest interspersed with showers, and drier periods further south. This could be accompanied by a general upturn in temperatures, as well as the risk of strong winds at times.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019