WIREDGOV

The weekend will begin with plenty of dry and bright weather across the UK, although showers will continue in the northwest.

A more active weather system will arrive on Sunday, bringing heavy rain to western areas before moving eastwards across the country.

There will be marked regional contrasts in both weather and temperature, with southeastern England holding on to warmer conditions while the north and west experience a fresher and increasingly unsettled spell.

A slow improvement in the east on Saturday

A weather front moving across the UK on Friday may be slower to clear than initially expected. As a result, cloud and outbreaks of rain could linger across eastern England into Saturday morning, with some moderate or locally heavy rain possible. Any remaining rain should gradually move away, although it may take some time for skies to brighten in eastern districts.

A few patches of mist and fog may also develop early on Saturday, but these are not expected to be as extensive as those seen on Friday morning. Once the mist, fog and eastern rain clear, much of England and Wales should have a largely dry day with variable cloud and sunny spells.

Conditions will be more changeable farther northwest. Showers will affect Northern Ireland and western Scotland, with some also reaching other parts of Scotland, northern England and western Wales. The showers will be most frequent in the northwest, where a few could turn heavy. An isolated thundery burst cannot be ruled out, although widespread thunder is not expected.

Fresher air will spread across the country behind Friday’s weather front. Temperatures in southeastern England will be markedly lower than on Friday, although they could still reach the low 20s. Farther north and west, temperatures will generally be in the mid to high teens. Blustery winds will make it feel cooler at times, particularly in exposed northwestern areas.

Showers and gusty winds will continue in the northwest through Saturday afternoon and evening. However, many parts of England and Wales should end the day dry, with clearer intervals continuing overnight. A few mist and fog patches may reform by Sunday morning.

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