The UK will experience further spells of rain, showers and blustery winds over the coming days, with temperatures generally close to average.
However, a change in the weather pattern is expected during the second half of the weekend, allowing higher pressure and warmer air to move in for the start of next week.
Rain and showers on Thursday
Thursday will begin with rain clearing southeastern England, followed by a mixture of sunny spells and blustery showers. The most frequent downpours will affect northern and northwestern parts of the UK, with more persistent rain and strong winds possible across the far north.
A west to north-westerly wind will make it feel cool, particularly beneath the showers. Temperatures will reach the mid to high teens across northern and northwestern areas, but could rise into the low 20s in the southeast as brighter conditions develop later.
Showers will continue overnight, especially in the north and west, before gradually becoming fewer. It will be a cooler night, with some places falling into single figures and most areas remaining in the low teens.
Wet weather returning on Friday
Many places will begin Friday on a cool but bright note. However, cloud will quickly increase from the west as another Atlantic weather front approaches.
Rain will spread into Northern Ireland, western Scotland, western England and Wales during the day. Some of it could become heavy and persistent over western hills, while winds may approach gale force in the far northwest of Scotland. Temperatures will remain around average, although the weather system will begin to introduce warmer air.
READ MORE: Why has it been so humid recently?
Mixed conditions this weekend
By Saturday, warmer and more humid air will have reached southern parts of the UK. A weather front is expected to linger across Wales, the Midlands and southern England, bringing intermittent outbreaks of rain. The rain is not expected to be especially heavy or prolonged, but its precise north-to-south position remains uncertain.
Further north, brighter spells are likely, although frequent showers will continue across northern and western Scotland. Gusty winds will make it feel cool here despite the sunshine.
A further change is expected on Sunday as another area of rain moves in from the Atlantic. Western parts of the UK will become increasingly cloudy, with rain mostly affecting Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England later in the day. Eastern areas should remain drier and brighter.
Higher pressure building next week
The change towards more settled weather is linked to developments over the Atlantic. A deep area of low pressure is expected to form well to the west of the UK. Although this system will not directly affect the country, it is likely to help shift the jet stream northwards. This will allow high pressure to build from the south during the second half of the weekend and into next week.
The most likely pattern for Monday has high pressure centred across southern parts of the UK. This would bring predominantly dry and bright weather with sunny spells to many areas, although northwestern Scotland could remain more changeable.
High pressure is expected to remain influential through Tuesday and Wednesday, including the autumn equinox on Wednesday 23 September. Its precise position remains uncertain, but most forecast scenarios support a broadly drier and more settled period, particularly across the south.
READ MORE: Do changing seasons affect the jet stream?
Growing uncertainty later
High pressure remains the most likely dominant feature towards the end of the 10-day period, supporting further dry and relatively warm weather. However, some forecast scenarios show low pressure returning, particularly to the north of the UK.
The most likely outcome is therefore a continuation of settled conditions for many, especially in the south, but with an increasing chance of wind and rain returning to northern areas later next week. A more widespread return to unsettled weather remains possible, although it is currently the less likely scenario.
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