Storm Boelo will approach the northwest of the UK during Saturday, bringing strengthening winds and outbreaks of heavy rain.

Saturday will begin wet and windy in the west, with rain spreading eastwards across the country. The rain will be heavy at times, particularly over high ground in western areas, while winds will strengthen as the day progresses.

Clearer and more showery conditions will develop across parts of the north and west later in the day. However, it will remain windy, especially in northern and western areas, where the strongest gusts are expected.

During Saturday evening, rain across England and Wales will continue to clear eastwards. Clearer skies and a few showers will follow from the west.

Northern Ireland will remain showery overnight, while Scotland will see showers or longer spells of rain, which could be heavy at times. Winds will remain a significant feature, with gales and severe gales possible in the north.

Met Office warnings have been issued for strong winds from Saturday and into Sunday, covering Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England. Strong winds could generate large waves around exposed coastlines and cause travel disruption. People planning journeys should check the latest forecast and warnings before travelling and allow additional time where necessary.

What’s the forecast for Sunday?

Sunday will bring a mixture of clear or sunny spells and showers for most places. The showers will be most frequent and heaviest across northern areas, where they may merge into longer periods of rain over parts of Scotland.

The most persistent rain will gradually become confined to the Northern Isles later in the day. Meanwhile, cloud and outbreaks of rain may move close to the far southwest.

It will remain very windy in the north, with gales or severe gales possible in exposed locations. These winds could cause some disruption, so people should stay up to date with the latest forecast.

Elsewhere, the combination of sunny spells and showers will give a more changeable feel to the day. It will also feel rather cold, particularly in areas exposed to the strong northerly winds and frequent showers.

Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Honor Criswick, said: “By the early hours of the morning, it will start to cloud over again across Wales, Devon and Cornwall, with some showers. Through Saturday, it will gradually turn more unsettled as Storm Boelo moves towards the northwest, bringing a spell of wet and windy weather eastwards across the UK.

“There will be some very heavy outbreaks of rain, particularly across Scotland, northern England and higher ground in Wales. Slightly milder air will bring temperatures up by a few degrees, but for many it will be an unpleasant start to the weekend, with strong winds and heavy rain.

“One of the main impacts will be the wind, particularly across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, where gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph, and potentially 80 mph in exposed parts of Scotland. The strongest winds will continue through Saturday and into Sunday morning, with an amber warning issued for parts of Scotland.

“On Sunday, many southern areas will turn drier, with temperatures around 13 to 14°C, although it will remain fairly gusty. Further north, longer spells of rain will become more showery across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, although the Northern Isles and far northeast of Scotland could continue to see more persistent rain. Overall, it will be a very unsettled weekend.”

READ MORE: 

Where were Storm Austen’s strongest wind gusts recorded?

How to find wind and gust information in the Met Office app

What does it take for a storm to be named? 

Weather bombs: What causes explosive cyclogenesis? 

Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.  

Storm clouds