Met Office daily weather: Middle of the week brings cloud, rain, and brighter spells

The middle of the week brings a mix of cloud, rain, and brighter spells across the UK, with temperatures generally near or a little above average for the time of year.

On Wednesday, low cloud and areas of patchy light rain or drizzle will linger across central and southern England and Wales, gradually clearing southwards as the day progresses. Northern and western Scotland will be windy and cloudy, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming more persistent, especially on the upslopes.

Elsewhere, much of the country can expect a drier day with variable cloud and some sunny spells. Temperatures will be close to or slightly above the seasonal average, providing a mild feel for many.

As we move into Wednesday night and Thursday morning, cloud and patchy light rain or drizzle will continue across Scotland, sinking south into Northern Ireland and perhaps reaching far northern England. The far north will turn clearer, though it will remain breezy with a few showers.

Central and southern England and Wales will see mostly clear and dry conditions overnight. As a result, it will turn chilly, with rural grass frost likely and a few fog patches forming, particularly a few hours after dusk.

Outlook for Thursday

Thursday will be largely dry for most areas, with extensive cloud cover but also some bright or sunny intervals. These sunnier spells are most likely across eastern Scotland, north-east England, and the far south of England, where any early fog patches should soon clear.

A few blustery showers are possible at first in Shetland, while elsewhere, cloud may be thick enough at times for some light rain or drizzle, particularly over western hills. Winds will remain brisk in the north, especially to the lee of hills, but will be much lighter in the south. After a chilly start in the south, daytime temperatures will generally be near normal, with eastern Scotland seeing values a little above average.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Clare Nasir, said: “Wednesday morning will be  damp for some but some brighter skies coming through particularly across the central slice of the country. High pressure is trying to build from the southwest and we do have a weak weather front across southern counties bringing with it a little patchy rain and drizzle, mostly cloud. At the same time this system is moving across Scotland.

“Again, some showers are likely which will become persistent across the western side as the weather becomes a bit more gusty, especially over the Highlands. Then if you're stepping out, you could get wet. Eastern Scotland down towards the south. Similar situation for Northern Ireland. We'll see the cloud coming and going with some brighter weather. We run into the back edge of this weather front across mid Wales towards the Midlands. Brighter skies towards the north as the sun rises.

“But further south, yes, you'll see more in the way of cloud and also some patchy rain and drizzle. Poor visibility over the moors as well as the mountains and the hills through the morning. Elsewhere, brighter skies will continue. A mix of cloud and sunshine and showery bursts. These showery bursts will become a bit more persistent particularly across the northwest Highlands as we head through the afternoon.

“Feeling relatively pleasant, but certainly showers will continue across the far north and it will dry up across the far south as the cloud breaks up allowing for some late sunshine. Temperatures then 15 to 18°C. Feeling pleasant in shelter in any brighter weather. So that's the picture for this afternoon. Through this evening, yet again, we'll see some clearer skies as that high pressure continues to build from the southwest, but over the North Pennines as well as the Highlands, you'll see some gustiness associated with the winds just being a bit more turbulent as it moves from the west towards the east.”