Heavy rain will clear northeast today, leaving behind sharp showers initially, which will ease later. More wet, windy weather moves in from the northwest tomorrow, then the rain and wind continues this weekend as Storm Dennis arrives.
Heavy rain has swept North and East across England and Wales overnight, with parts of central, southern Scotland, Cumbria and the far North of England waking to some snow this morning. This has brought tricky driving conditions to hilly areas, with snow at lower levels turning to rain before dying away through the afternoon. Across Northern Ireland rain and hill snow will soon clear, to leave some sunshine across the province. Over northern Scotland, it's a frosty start -10C at first in Braemar, but apart from a few wintry showers, it'll b a dry, bright, day here. A Northerly wind will feel raw though, with temperatures across the North no higher than 3 to 5C.
For Wales and the remainder of England, the rain as cleared to sunny spells and some heavy showers in the South. Although lighter across central parts for a time, a South West or West wind will be fresh and blustery further South. Towards English Channel coasts there'll be gales, with gusts of 60mph possible over the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands for a time. This'll feel chilly, but despite this much of England and Wales will be on the mild side, with top temperatures between 7 and 10C.
There'll be drizzle in the North East at first this evening, with showers in the South soon fading. A brief lull overnight then brings clearing skies and lighter winds. This'll lead to a slight frost over Scotland and in the East, with lowest temperatures -2 to +2C. Later in the night though a freshening southerly wind brings cloud and rising temperatures to the West, with Northern Ireland turning wet and windy before dawn.
Friday is just as unsettled with more wet and windy weather, especially in the North and West. The rain, heavy for a time, will be preceded by snow on Scottish hills. As temperatures rise, this coupled with melting snow has already prompted yellow warnings of flooding particularly for central and southern parts of Scotland. Across Northern Ireland, it'll be a day of sunny intervals and blustery showers. Some will be heavy and squally giving local hail and thunder, with this type of weather spreading to Scotland and much of North West England through the afternoon.
In the East and South after perhaps a bright start, the rain by the afternoon should be lighter generally and patchy. You'll undoubtedly notice a freshening Southerly wind though that'll become fresh to strong, with severe gales in the North and West giving gusts up to 70mph. It'll be turning milder everywhere though, with temperatures eventually reaching 6 to 8C in the North and 10 to a very mild 13C further South.
The South East and South remain cloudy after dark with occasional rain that could become heavier and more persistent later. Elsewhere there'll be a mixture of clear intervals mostly in the East and blustery showers, most frequent in the West and North. Some will be heavy and squally, in a fresh or strong South West wind that'll give further gusts to 50 or 60mph in the West and exposed areas. It'll be a milder night though, with temperatures unlikely to fall below 5 to 7C and 8 to 10C in the South.
The weekend continues the theme, with the arrival of storm Dennis bringing more heavy rain and snow to northern hills Blustery or squally showers will follow. It then remains windy and unsettled into next week.