Weather and climate change

Headline:

Bands of rain and then showers moving east.

Today:

Early cloud and rain over Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England spreading into most other regions. Hill snow likely for parts of Scotland and northern England. Northern Scotland staying brighter. Becoming windy with gales in parts of the south-west later.

Tonight:

Rain, with snow on some northern hills, continuing to move north-east. Clear spells and showers following, some heavy with hail in the south-west, where gales are likely, severe on coasts.

Friday:

Rain in the north-east, with sunny intervals and occasional showers elsewhere. Becoming cloudier with rain into the south-west later along with renewed strong winds and coastal gales later.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Very unsettled and cold over the weekend with continued strong winds, heavy showers and some hill snow. On Monday, although it will remain cold, it will generally become more settled.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Dec 2019

Following the current very unsettled spell, early next week will probably become less windy generally with some longer drier and brighter spells with local frost and fog. However, it will probably turn generally more unsettled and milder again from around mid-week as further bands of rain and strong winds edge in from the west. Thereafter it looks as if unsettled and sometimes windy conditions will dominate for the rest of the period. Most of the rain will probably be in the west with drier spells more likely in the east and southeast. Snow is likely at times in the north, mainly on high ground. There remains a small chance of some longer colder, dry spells at times, with an increased risk of both frost and fog.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Dec 2019

Confidence is low throughout this period. Changeable and sometimes windy conditions seem more likely through late December, with the wetter weather in the west and longer drier spells in the east. By the time we go into January, longer spells of more widely dry, quiet and bright weather are possible, especially for southern and central areas, with the northwest more likely to remain unsettled. Temperatures should be near to or somewhat above average overall, but with the usual day to day variations. However in quieter spells, it is likely to be colder generally, with an increased risk of frost and fog.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Dec 2019