Weekend weather as school holidays begin, and yes there is rain in the forecast

There is some wet and windy weather on the way, so it must be time for the school holidays. An Atlantic low pressure will trundle its way across the UK this weekend bringing outbreaks of rain. Scotland and Northern Ireland are three weeks into their summer school break and parents have probably given up caring about the weather by now.

Today has seen a mixed picture across Britain with fine, warm sunshine but a fresh feel to the air. Others have seen scattered showers with some hefty downpours, even thundery bursts in the northeast. Most of southern Britain is having a settled Friday afternoon with descending air ahead of the incoming system. Friday afternoon will continue to be wet and cloudy for Northern Ireland with the rain reaching across the Irish Sea for Friday night.

The heaviest rain is often around the Triple Point, where the three frontal bands join, near to the centre of the low. Leeds looks pretty wet this weekend with temperatures around 16C. Brighton should escape the rain but will see more cloud on Saturday then brighter and warmer on Sunday but windy for the south coast. 

Various frontal bands will move across the UK with more cloud and outbreaks of rain. Within the warm sector the air would be warm and more humid but the rain and breeze are going to make it feel cooler. Northern Scotland remains away from the main fronts and there will be a good deal of dry weather here but with an easterly flow. It will feel fresh but warmer in any sheltered sunshine. Southeast Britain will also see dry weather for a time on Saturday but heavier rain does arrive from the west later in the day.

A different picture for those stuck under a slow-moving band of rain. It will be grey, wet and cool. And if this continues into Sunday, there will be big puddles developing. The cold front works its way across Wales then England but the whole frontal boundary lines up west to east for Sunday. There is a little uncertainty about where it will rest and if it begins to sink southwards on Sunday. So just keep this in mind.

To the south with breaks in the cloud, it will feel warm but away to the far north, there will be fresher air. Under the rainband, it will feel cool again. A mixed bag for this weekend.