Met Office daily weather: Unsettled with fluctuating temperatures

A spell of unsettled weather is expected to affect much of the United Kingdom through midweek

A spell of unsettled weather is expected to affect much of the United Kingdom through midweek, with rain, wind, and fluctuating temperatures dominating the forecast.

The heaviest rainfall is likely across western hills, particularly in Wales, while southern and central areas will experience persistent cloud and further outbreaks of rain or drizzle. Winds will be a notable feature, with the risk of gales around exposed coasts and upland areas.

Wednesday will begin with rain, heavy at times over western hills, most notably in Wales, spreading north-eastwards through the day. While some central areas may see a drier and brighter interlude, much of southern Britain is expected to remain rather cloudy, with further outbreaks of rain or drizzle. Rain will be persistent and locally heavy for southern Wales. Winds will be widely strong, with the chance of gales around exposed coasts and hills in the west.

As the evening progresses, southern areas will remain cloudy with further rain or drizzle, which will be persistent and heavy at first in parts of southern and southwest Wales. This zone of rain will gradually move back north across some central areas. Further north, rain over the Northern Isles will clear north-eastwards, followed by clear spells, although blustery showers and coastal gales will persist in the northwest.

Outlook for Thursday

Thursday will see cloudy conditions with outbreaks of rain across parts of Wales and northern England, possibly extending into southern Scotland and eastern Northern Ireland. Western hills will be especially wet, and winds will increase, particularly over high ground. South of this rain band, it will remain quite cloudy and drizzly, especially in southern and southwest England, with the best of any drier and brighter weather in eastern England.

Further north, across Scotland and Northern Ireland, conditions will be brighter with scattered showers or longer spells of rain, mainly in exposed northern and western areas. Gales are likely in the far northwest at first, but these will gradually ease. After a mild night, daytime temperatures will be near average, with a more humid feel across England and Wales, where highs of 17-19°C are expected, and locally up to 21°C in sheltered spots such as northeast Wales, Cheshire, and northeast England. Temperatures will be nearer normal further north.

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Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Alex Deakin, said: “We are concerned about the rain building up in places over the course of Wednesday. It could cause a little bit of disruption. It will also bring some milder air. So, it won't be a cold night across the southwest. Temperatures holding up in the teens, but before the rain arrives with some clear skies as the winds ease off. Rural parts of northern Scotland could dip down to single figures. A dry bright start.

“Elsewhere though, pretty soggy morning rush hour, morning commute. A lot of spray, a lot of surface water on the roads. And that rain is likely to linger over parts of Wales through the day. There'll be further spells of rain elsewhere. It could start to clear from southwest Scotland. Should ease from Northern Ireland as well. Parts of southern England may not see too much in the way of rain, but it will be pretty glum.

“Now, the main points for concern are across Wales with that rain building up. It's been a very wet few weeks and so this rain could cause a few issues. The potential for some flooding. Certainly, some travel disruption is possible. So, if you're heading out then just check the roads or the rail before you do so.

“It'll be quite a windy day as well as that rain making it all feel pretty miserable despite temperatures actually being a little bit above average. And through the afternoon, that rain should clear further from southern Scotland, Northern England, and good chance of some bright or sunny spells coming in.

“Staying pretty blustery in the far northwest, fairly brisk winds across the south also. But as I said, bringing mild air. So, we could easily see those temperatures more widely up to 20°C. Some sunny spells in northeast England, maybe 21°C here. But again, not feeling all that mild because of the wind and the rain."

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