Met Office daily weather: Weather warnings issued as Storm Claudia set to impact parts of the UK

Friday brings a marked contrast across the UK. Much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and far northern England will remain dry and cold, with variable cloud and some sunny spells. However, scattered showers, wintry over hills and in Shetland, will affect the north and east. Meanwhile, the rest of England and Wales faces a much wetter and windier picture.

Persistent and at times heavy rain is expected, especially on east-facing hills, accompanied by strong and gusty winds, particularly over and to the lee of hills. The far south may see milder conditions and perhaps some brighter spells later, but there remains a risk of heavy showers.

Several weather warnings are in place for Friday. Amber warnings for heavy rain cover central parts of England and Wales, where 50 to 150 millimetres of rain could fall in some areas. A yellow warning for rain is also in effect for central and southern England, alongside two yellow wind warnings for northwest Wales, northwest England, and the West Midlands.

Rain across England and Wales (and possibly the south of Northern Ireland) will slowly ease overnight, with winds moderating. Scotland will see clearer skies, with coastal showers in the north and east becoming more isolated. Sheltered inland areas may experience patchy frost. Temperatures will be suppressed to single figures Celsius as far south as the Midlands, though the far south remains very mild. Colder air will seep further south overnight, but cloud, wind, and precipitation will keep minima up across most of southern Britain.

Outlook for Saturday

Saturday sees a pronounced north-south split. England, Wales, and possibly Northern Ireland will be overcast, wet, and dull, with heavier overnight rain easing but light rain and drizzle persisting. Early morning fog is likely in the far south, slowly lifting as winds pick up. There is a small risk of heavy showers in the extreme south later in the day. Scotland will be largely dry with sunny spells, especially in the west, though some showers may arrive in Shetland overnight. After a frosty start, it will remain cold in the north, while the extreme south stays rather mild.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Alex Burkill, said: “It's a tale of two halves on Friday. If you look across the country, staying bright with a few wintry showers across Scotland and some parts of Northern England and maybe Northern Ireland, but across the rest of England and Wales. Storm Claudia bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

“It's worth noting that the winds coming in more from the east. And that's pivotal to where we're going to see those highest rainfall totals building up. It's going to be around some eastern facing higher ground, particularly across parts of Wales, southeast Wales in particular. That's where we're greatest risk of seeing some particularly heavy rainfall is going to be.

“We do have a couple of warnings out. There's a yellow rain warning across much of central southern England and Wales. and then two amber warnings within that. Particularly this one across parts of south-southeast Wales where we could see rainfall totals over some higher ground of 100 to 150 mm of rain. Now that's a substantial amount. So, some flooding, some major disruption is quite likely. Also a wind warning across parts of northwest England. We could be seeing some very strong gusts of wind mixed in with that heavy rain.

“It really is going to be quite an unpleasant day for many places. If you do need to travel, then do stay up to date with the forecast because there is likely to be some disruption. It is still mild, however, towards the south. Not feeling it when you get that wind and rain. It's going to feel pretty unpleasant, but temperatures still above average for sure. Further north though, much closer, if not a little bit below average. So, a chilly feel despite the fact that it will be much drier, much brighter, and much sunnier. The heavy rain and the strong winds continue as we go through into the evening and they're going to continue as well as we go through overnight. And some of that heavy rain continues into Saturday as well."