Met Office daily weather: A dynamic weekend as Amy arrives

Saturday begins with rain clearing from the far south-east during the early morning, leaving most areas with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers.

Saturday begins with rain clearing from the far south-east during the early morning, leaving most areas with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers.

These showers will be most frequent across northern and north-western regions, where some longer spells of rain are likely and could be heavy at times. It will be a windy day for all, with the strongest winds affecting northern areas. Gales and severe gales are expected, with storm force winds gradually transferring eastwards across northern Scotland. Temperatures will be below average for the time of year, and it will feel particularly chilly in the north due to the strong winds.

Storm Amy will continue to bring strong winds and heavy rain to many areas, especially the north-west half of the UK from late Friday into Saturday. Several National Severe Weather Warnings are in place, including amber warnings for Northern Ireland and western and northern Scotland. The latter covers the risk of high impacts, with some locations likely to experience exceptionally strong winds for a short period on Friday evening.

Showers will gradually die out overnight, except for areas exposed to north-westerly winds and the far north-east of Scotland. Clear spells will develop, particularly in southern and eastern regions, though winds will only slowly moderate, making frost unlikely. Severe gales may persist in the far north and north-east of Scotland.

Outlook for Sunday

Sunday will see blustery and squally showers continuing across the Northern Isles during the morning. Most other areas will enjoy a drier interlude, but increasing cloud will spread from the west later, bringing outbreaks of rain and drizzle, especially over windward high ground. Rain will become heavier and more persistent overnight. Winds should generally moderate, but it will remain breezy in many areas. Temperatures will be near or a little below normal for early October.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Aidan McGivern, said: “It's certainly going to be a blustery start to Saturday. There are strong winds across many parts of the UK. Fifty mile per hour wind gusts widely, but it's the north and northeast of Scotland where there is the risk throughout the daytime on Saturday of 70 to 85mph wind gusts. Again, disruption likely, ferry cancellations, damaging wind gusts, as well as dangerous conditions around coasts.

READ MORE: Met Office weekend weather: Storm Amy brings unsettled conditions

“By the start of Sunday, it's still blustery, but the strongest of the winds are moving through. Once this weather front's out of the way, it is brighter across England and Wales, but there's further spells of rain pushing south across England and Wales, but also much of northern Scotland. And the rain really accumulating throughout Saturday for the Northwest Highlands. Could be 70 to 100mm of rainfall, I should say, also combined with heavy showers for many parts of the UK. So very unsettled day to come on Saturday.

“Those heavy downpours and the strong wind making it feel on the cool side with the wind coming from the northwest. It is going to feel notably different with that wind chill now compared with the last couple of days of milder weather. Further spells of rain in the north of Scotland overnight on Saturday night. Showers also continuing to tumble into western parts of the UK. By the time we get to Sunday morning, temperatures of 9 or 10°C, but still feeling fresh out there in the gusty wind.

“However, that wind is easing through Sunday. Sunday's a more typical blustery day rather than a particularly impactful day. There'll be showery rain particularly in the west. There'll be brighter spells particularly in the east. And that wind not particularly strong by the end of the day in many parts. So perhaps feeling a little more pleasant as we end the weekend.”

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