A fast-evolving weather situation during today, and across the next few days as systems rattle in off of the Atlantic.
Be very careful particularly at first this morning, with amber warnings of ice across Northern Ireland and in the East as rain falls on the frozen ground. There are also warnings of snow across northern England for a while together with southern and central parts of Scotland. A further warning of severe gales is in force for the South West and exposed areas of the South coast, in a morning full of meteorological interest in a currently rapidly changing situation.
After a frosty start across North East England and Scotland where temperatures have fallen as low as -13C in the coldest spots overnight, there's rain heavy in places, sweeping across the country. We also have some snow across Lancashire and the Peak District that'll cause problems particularly over hilly parts of northern England and southern and central Scotland this morning. Following on quickly behind will be a less cold mixture of sunny intervals and blustery showers. Some of these are also heavy giving local thunder, with a lot of storms, somewhat unusually for this time of year affecting some southern coastal counties first thing this morning. In complete contrast, northern Scotland apart from the odd wintry shower in the East will be mostly dry but very cold.
Check the latest radar and lightning detection here.
By the afternoon snow over parts of central and southern Scotland will tend to peter-out. Turning to rain in the South, while the North sees a scattering of wintry showers in a raw East wind. Northern Ireland will be mostly dull, wet at times, and rather cold, with snow perhaps returning briefly to the Derry and Antrim mountains. Meanwhile, over England and Wales, a brighter afternoon will give sunny intervals, but there'll also be a further scattering of blustery showers particularly in the West and South where some will be heavy. They'll also continue to be wintry over hills in the North.
Blustery winds will veer West or South West over England and Wales this morning becoming fresh or strong, with gales, locally severe, expected across the South West and along exposed English Channel coasts during the afternoon. Top temperatures 8 or 9C in the South but 5 to 7C further North. Across much of Scotland however, a very cold and raw 2 to 4C is more likely.
In a fast-changing situation, England, Wales and Northern Ireland see showers fade into the evening as winds decrease. During the night though more rain speeds in from the South West, reaching most parts by morning. The South to South West wind will strengthen again in a relatively mild night, with temperatures mostly falling no lower than 3 to 6C. Across Scotland, it'll be the turn of the North to see some sleet or snow before it turns less cold from the South bringing a thaw. Remaining parts keep a lot of cloud with patchy rain, mist and some hill fog in slowly rising temperatures.
Saturday sees any snow in the far North turning to rain, with remaining parts of Scotland cloudy and showery. Elsewhere there'll be sunny intervals once the early rain has cleared, these mostly over the East of England and Wales. There'll be showers in places though, with southern counties wet for a while during the morning. A South or South West wind will freshen again, becoming strong in exposed areas on a milder day, with top temperatures 5 to 8C in the North and 10 to 13C in the South.
After a brief lull into Saturday evening, another spell of wet and windy weather sweeps across most parts, with snow again on Scottish hills. A Southerly wind freshens once more perhaps giving gales in the West and South before clearer weather moves into Northern Ireland and the West later. It'll remain mild though, with temperatures unlikely to fall below 6 to 9C except in the far North.
