Met Office daily weather: Changeable conditions for the start of the week

It will be a mixed start to the week across the UK, with northern areas bearing the brunt of unsettled conditions.

Today, the Northern Isles and far north of mainland Scotland will see persistent cloud and outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, gradually easing later in the day. Elsewhere across northern Britain, expect variable cloud cover with scattered showers, particularly frequent and heavy in northwestern regions.

In contrast, southern parts of the UK will enjoy a largely dry day with sunny spells developing, especially across central and southeastern England. Winds will be fresh to strong in the north, with coastal gales possible for a time in the far north. Temperatures will be near average for most, though it will feel rather cool in the northwest and rather warm in the southeast.

Overnight, cloud will persist across the Northern Isles with further rain and drizzle. Eastern and southeastern areas will begin the night dry with clear spells, but cloud will increase from the west as the night progresses. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread eastwards, becoming locally heavy over western hills. Some eastern areas, particularly those sheltered by high ground, may remain dry. Winds will remain fresh to strong along coasts and over hills. Temperatures will stay near average in northern Scotland and rather warm elsewhere.

Outlook for Tuesday

Tuesday will see further cloud and outbreaks of rain or drizzle, particularly across western areas, moving eastwards through the morning. The heaviest precipitation is expected over west-facing high ground, notably in Wales, northern England, and southwest Scotland. Eastern areas and the far south may see drier and brighter intervals, especially to the lee of high ground. Northern Scotland will experience a mix of sunshine and showers. It will be rather breezy, with gusty conditions likely downwind of high terrain. Temperatures will range from rather cool in the northwest to potentially very warm and humid in the southeast.

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Rain and drizzle will continue in the west, initially affecting central parts of the UK before spreading more widely. Southern and eastern areas are likely to remain mostly dry, with occasional cloud breaks. Winds will ease overnight, and temperatures will remain slightly above average for most.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Jonathan Vautrey, said: “It’s a bright and breezy start to this new week, all courtesy of an area of low pressure just sat to the north of the UK, and a lot of isobars on the chart is indicating where those brisk westerly breezes are coming in. A few frontal systems, particularly for the Northern Isles, could provide some longer spells of rain, and here those winds may be strong enough to produce coastal gales at times.

“A scattering of showers for northern and western regions, but generally, if you’re to the east of higher grounds, you may manage to stay largely dry. But particularly for the southern half of the UK, we’ll hold on to some more prolonged sunshine throughout the day. Do remember though that UV levels will be high in that sunshine, since we’re just past the summer solstice, peaking at around 24°C, so pleasant if you manage to get out of the breeze. Around 16 to 18°C further north and west.

“During this evening and overnight, we will see the cloud building in more readily from the west, and longer spells of rain will start to arrive for Northern Ireland, eventually spreading into other western regions as we head into the second half of the night. This could come with lowering cloud, and particularly over the moors and the hills, but also coastal regions of the Irish Sea could see some fog around first thing on Tuesday morning. A bit misty and murky. It’s also filtering in some more humid conditions, and it will be quite a mild night for Wales, southwest England. But if you’re over towards the east or the north, it will be a touch fresher first thing, 10 or 11°C there for northern Scotland.

“The heaviest of the rain on Tuesday will be across these western regions, quite a damp, wet start. Again, eastern areas may manage to stay largely dry throughout the day, but there’s generally going to be more cloud around for most of us during the day on Tuesday. The odd brighter break will try and poke its way through at times. Still blustery though for many of us, and with those winds coming in from the southwest, we will start to see temperatures climbing up a little bit more across parts of England and Wales, 26°C as the high in there across southeastern regions. Generally in the north, we’re expecting temperatures to be pretty similar to Monday, again, 16 to 18°C.”

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