Wet & Windy North, Fine Elsewhere

Although much of England and Wales will enjoy another fine and dry day with sunny spells, an area of low pressure to the NW will bring cloud and rain across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the far north of England today, accompanied by strong to gale force southwesterly winds. The rain will move south across all areas overnight and through Monday, followed by a return to cool and showery conditions until mid-week, then high pressure should return on Wednesday to calm the weather down a bit.

So for today, after a clear and chilly start, much of England and Wales will remain dry and sunny today. Northern areas will be sunniest this morning, with cloud thickening across northern England and north Wales later this afternoon, with rain developing across Cumbria by this evening, accompanied by a strengthening southwesterly wind. For Scotland and Northern Ireland, a cloudy day, with rain spreading in from the west accompanied by a strong to gale force southwesterly wind. The rain will be heavy and persistent in the west, lighter and more patchy east of high ground.

On Monday, the rain in the north will move south across England and Wales, tending to weaken as it does so, the far southeast perhaps staying dry until evening though. Brighter but showery conditions will follow from the north across central and northern areas, the showers could be heavy and thundery across southern Scotland and northern England.

Then Tuesday looks like being a showery day everywhere, showers will be heavy and thundery in the east and perhaps merging into longer spells of rain in the north - falling as snow over the Scottish Highlands. A drier day for all looks likely on Wednesday with some sunshine, as a ridge of high pressure builds in, though some isolated showers possible in the SE. Thursday and Friday at the moment are looking mainly dry for central and eastern areas, patchy rain in the north and west and perhaps a risk of showers in the far south.

Published on 13th May 2012 10:25 Updated: 13th May 2012 10:25