Met Office daily weather: Rain and cloud but some sunny spells to break through

The latest Met Office forecast shows rain and cloud with some sunny spells breaking through

Thursday will begin with rather cloudy conditions across western areas, where rain and drizzle are expected at times, particularly over upslopes and peaks. Despite the cloud, there will be a few brighter spells breaking through. The progress of cloud and rain eastwards will be erratic and uncertain, so local conditions may vary.

Elsewhere, most regions will remain mostly dry, although variable and at times extensive cloud cover is likely. Some bright or sunny spells are possible, especially away from the west. There is a chance of scattered showers in East Anglia and south-east England during the morning. Winds will be mostly light, and temperatures will be very mild once again.

Overnight into Friday, conditions will remain mild with light winds. Cloud cover will be variable, and at times extensive, with some mist and fog patches developing, particularly in sheltered areas. Rain is expected to persist, mainly in the west, and may spread later to parts of East Anglia and south-east England.

Outlook for Friday

Friday will see a band of cloud and rain arriving across south-western areas during the morning. This zone of rain will weaken as it moves north and east through the day. To the east of the rain, large amounts of low cloud and hill fog are likely, but conditions may turn a little brighter in the south-west later. Winds will be mainly light to moderate, but may become fresh to strong around southern and western coasts for a time. Temperatures will remain mild for most places, and locally very mild.

Both Thursday and Friday will continue the trend of above-average temperatures for the time of year. Maximum temperatures are expected to widely reach 15–17°C, with localised spots in England and Wales possibly seeing 18°C or even an isolated 19°C.

Northern Scotland will be much milder than Wednesday, and there is more confidence in higher temperatures being reached on Friday than Thursday due to uncertainty in the timing of weather fronts. Nights will remain exceptionally mild, with lows staying in double figures, although a slight downward trend is expected by day.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Aidan McGivern, said: “On Thursday, we will see some showery rain push back into the south. And we'll see also a continuation of the cloud and damp weather across Scotland and Northern Ireland. But many places will start the day dry with even some sunny spells for northern England into the Midlands, eastern parts.

“Temperatures from the word go already in the mid-teens. Then we'll see those showers across southern parts push north into central areas on and off rain for many. In other words, some heavier downpours developing through West Wales pushing into northwest England and southwest Scotland by the afternoon. Otherwise, some sunny spells emerging and a lot of dry weather on Thursday compared with previous days.

“And with that sunshine coming out, it's going to be another very mild day, 16°C or 17°C. But again, the winds are notched down compared with earlier in the week. So, with lighter winds with some sunshine and 17°C, feel positively spring-like. But going into the evening, as the sun goes down, we will see the cloudier areas remain and some more showers developing across southern and western parts of the UK.

“Into Friday, this system starts to turn up. That will bring some heavy rain into the west, crossing the country, and then a drier start to the weekend at least with lower pressure further away."