Weather and climate change

Headline:

Low cloud and drizzle moving north across western areas.

This Evening and Tonight:

Plenty of clear spells, but low cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle continue in the southwest, this will edge northwards across parts of Wales and Northern Ireland later. Feeling warmer than the previous night with rising humidity.

Thursday:

Largely dry in the south and east with very warm sunshine. Cloudier elsewhere with scattered showers, these heavy, perhaps thundery across Northern Ireland. Feeling warm and humid in the east.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Staying largely dry in the southeast on Friday with very warm sunshine. Cloudier further north and west with outbreaks of showery rain. Turning cooler this weekend with widespread thundery showers.

Updated: 17:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Jul 2025

Overall a rather more changeable pattern of weather through this period, compared to much of the summer thus far. The first couple of days will likely be dominated by low pressure leading to particularly unsettled weather, with heavy rain and/or thunderstorms in some areas. Thereafter, a general westerly regime looks to become established, with occasional weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. This means further rain or showers and breezy conditions at times, especially in the northwest. This will be interspersed with some drier, sunnier periods. Temperatures are expected to average out above normal and whilst brief hotter and humid days are possible. This broad pattern is likely to continue through to the end of July.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Jul 2025

The rather changeable pattern will likely continue through early August with spells of rain or showers mixed in with some drier, brighter days. Towards mid-August, there are tentative signs that high pressure may become rather more dominant, which could bring more in the way dry, settled weather more widely. Temperatures will likely continue to be above average overall, with the possibility of very warm or hot spells developing later in the period, especially further south and east.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC+1) on Wed 16 Jul 2025