Weather and climate change

Headline:

Further heavy rain particularly in the west. Gales on Saturday.

Today:

Cold start in the east, but rain already across western areas moving north-eastwards across all parts. Some snow over northern hills for a time and possibly to lower levels in places briefly. Milder in the south, but becoming windy.

Tonight:

Windy with further rain at times, heavy over western hills, although drier in the south-east. Turning colder across the far west later as a band of heavy rain clears through.

Saturday:

Band of heavy rain and squally winds clearing east in the morning, followed by sunny spells and scattered wintry showers. Windy generally with severe gales in parts of the west.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Rain and hill snow for western Scotland Sunday. Otherwise, sunny spells and showers for most, wintry over hills. Very windy at first; winds easing Tuesday. Rather cold, with night frost.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 28 Feb 2020

Next week looks to stay unsettled with further spells of strong winds and rain, interspersed by sunnier, showery interludes. Snow is likely in the north, mainly over higher ground, though there is a chance of seeing snow to lower levels at times. There may be occasional spells of more prolonged, heavier rainfall and hill snow, particuarly in central and southern areas. Continuing into the following week, further bouts of wet and windy weather are likely, especially in the north although more settled conditions may start to develop from the south towards the end of the period. It will be predominantly rather cold with overnight frosts likely during any calmer interludes and only occasional milder days, these being more likely later in the period.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 28 Feb 2020

A continuation of the unsettled weather is expected at first in the north, with spells of rain and strong winds broken by brighter, showery conditions. The heaviest rain and strongest winds are expected in the northwest with more settled, drier conditions in southern and eastern parts. By the middle of March, conditions are likely to turn more widely settled, with more prolonged dry spells possible, especially in the south. Any further spells of wet and windy weather will likely be in the north. Temperatures mostly above average, with overnight frost and fog giving way to mild days.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 28 Feb 2020