Met Office daily weather: Rain, wind, and temperature swings

On Thursday, a band of rain will affect Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, and northern England, gradually weakening and fragmenting as it edges slowly southwards. Across northeastern Scotland, it will feel fairly cold, with a few showers, these turning wintry over high ground and even to low levels in Shetland. Elsewhere, much of England and Wales will enjoy a fine day with the odd shower, especially as the initial cloud and rain clear from the southeast.

By Thursday night, clearer and colder conditions will spread south across Scotland, reaching Northern Ireland and northern England, bringing a few wintry showers around coastal areas. Meanwhile, a new band of cloud and rain will move up from the south, leading to widespread moderate to heavy rainfall across Wales and the southern half of England. Strong easterly winds will develop, particularly affecting Wales and southwest England.

Temperatures will be mild in the south, with highs of 16-17°C possible in brighter spots, and minimum temperatures remaining as high as 10-13°C. In contrast, the north will feel much colder, with maximum temperatures suppressed to 6-8°C and frosts likely overnight, possibly as low as -5°C in Scottish glens and mountains.

Outlook for Friday

Friday will see much of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and perhaps the far north of England generally dry, with bright or sunny spells after a cold and locally icy start. A few showers are likely in northern and eastern areas, wintry on high ground and to low levels in Shetland, carried inland by brisk east to northeast winds.

For much of England and Wales, Friday will be dominated by cloudy skies and heavy, persistent rain, accompanied by strengthening easterly winds. These winds will be particularly strong and gusty over and to the west of high ground, making it feel decidedly cool. Southern England may turn somewhat drier, but there remains a risk of isolated heavy showers, and it will be markedly milder here compared to the north.

The persistent rain and brisk winds on Friday are expected to continue into Saturday, maintaining the unsettled theme as we head into the weekend.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Annie Shuttleworth, said: “It will be quite a bitterly cold morning to start on Thursday morning. Rain will linger across parts of Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland as well. Turn heavy for a time, but further south, much drier interlude to come across Wales, much of England. A few showers here and there, but it's going to be a much drier and brighter day. And we're still in the warmer air across southern areas of the UK.

“So, temperatures climbing into the towards the higher teens across the south and east through Thursday afternoon. However, as I said, there is further rain to come. We've got a weather front pushing up from the south through Friday, Thursday night into Friday. There is a risk of heavy rain across England and Wales. Some areas could see almost a month's worth of rain in just 24 hours. So, it's worth keeping up to date with our warnings.”