Thursday will begin with sunny spells and scattered showers across many parts of the UK. For many areas, it will be a drier day than Wednesday, although showers will be more frequent and locally heavier across northern Scotland, where there is also a small risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms.

Winds will be breezy across northern areas, becoming stronger later in the west, while elsewhere winds will generally be lighter. Through the afternoon, cloud will increase from the southwest, with outbreaks of rain beginning to edge into western regions later in the day. Daytime temperatures will be a little lower than earlier in the week but still close to, or just above, the seasonal average.

Showers will fade during the evening, allowing some clear spells to develop for a time. As the night progresses, cloud and rain will spread from the west and southwest, moving northwards and eastwards overnight. Rain will become heavier and more widespread later, particularly across Northern Ireland and western Scotland, accompanied by strengthening winds.

It will be a milder night for many compared to recent nights, with a small chance of mist or fog forming in parts of southern and south‑eastern England where clearer spells occur.

Outlook for Friday

Friday may start with patches of mist or fog in the south, otherwise many areas will see dry conditions with clear or sunny spells early on. However, cloud and outbreaks of rain will continue to spread eastwards from the west through the day, turning heavy at times, especially in western areas.

There is some possibility that rain may slow or briefly stall across central or southern parts of the UK. Later in the day, brighter conditions will follow from the west, bringing sunny intervals and showers. These showers may be heavy across north‑western areas.

Winds will become fresh or strong in western regions, with a small risk of coastal gales in the northwest later. Temperatures will remain near normal for the time of year, with the warmest conditions most likely in the east.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Alex Deakin, said: “Thursday will be a showery day across Scotland, with some early showers over northern England. There will be quite a bit of cloud across southern England, where a few showers will develop through the day, particularly from Somerset across Hampshire towards the London area, and later into East Anglia.

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“There will be plenty of showers in western Scotland, while southern Scotland should turn a little drier. Showers will also ease in Northern Ireland, and much of northern England and the Midlands should have a largely dry and bright day with some sunshine. However, cloud will steadily increase further west as the next weather system arrives, bringing outbreaks of rain to west Wales by the end of the afternoon.

“It will remain quite breezy, though not as windy as Wednesday. Temperatures won’t be quite as high in the east, but with some sunshine it should still feel pleasant, particularly across East Yorkshire where highs of 16 to 17°C are likely. Overall, temperatures will be a touch above average for the time of year due to lighter winds.

“Cloud will thicken quickly in the west, with rain spreading into Northern Ireland during the evening and later across western parts of England and much of Scotland overnight. That rain band will then move eastwards into Friday. It will be a mild start, with temperatures in the high single figures or low double figures for some.

“Rain will affect western areas early on, easing as it moves east, meaning much of East Anglia and the south‑east is likely to stay dry and bright for most of the day. Sunshine will return to Wales and north‑west England during Friday afternoon.”

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