Bits and Pieces Weather - Milder But Often Cloudy Today

We've been spoilt recently particularly in the East and South by lots of sunshine, and while there'll be some today, much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will often see quite large amounts of cloud. Here we have a slow-moving weak front that's giving patchy mostly light rain and drizzle, and it's also quite breezy, particularly in the North.

To the North of the front, Scotland particularly East Scotland and parts of North East England have started brightly with some sunshine, but there are a few showers towards Highland and over the North of Scotland. Some of these are heavy, but they'll fade through the afternoon. Cloud amounts are more variable over West Scotland, with Dumfries, Ayrshire and Strathclyde probably seeing patchy rain and drizzle moving in later as that weak front begins to return northeastwards. Much of East Scotland and North East England though will stay bright, after a somewhat chilly morning.

Despite the cloud over Northern Ireland, Wales and most of England skies will break in places to give sunny intervals, mostly where you have shelter from the wind. The emphasis will be on dry weather, but further patchy light rain and drizzle is expected mainly in the West, where it'll be misty at times over exposed coasts and hills.

It'll be breezy in most parts, with a moderate or fresh West or South Westerly wind giving gale force gusts across the Northern Isles and northern Scotland at first, before moderating a little through the day. Top temperatures over Scotland, just 10C in the far North but 13 to 15C in more sheltered eastern areas. Elsewhere a milder 16 to 18C is more likely, with a quite warm and somewhat humid 19 or 20C possible over parts of South and South East England where the sun comes through.

It could turn chilly for a while over the East of Scotland and towards Northumberland and County Durham before cloud probably moves in later in the night. Most places though will see a good deal of cloud with further patchy rain and drizzle, this mostly over the North and West of Scotland. And in the West, It'll remain misty over coasts and hills exposed South Westerly wind that'll decrease a little, in a relatively mild night for most, with temperatures not falling below 8 to 10C. But over East Scotland and North East England a chillier 5 or 6C is possible for a while.

Wednesday continues to see a good deal of cloud at times, with patchy mostly light rain or drizzle in places at first. Through the day though skies will brighten over England and Wales particularly across the East and South and in sheltered spots to the lee of the Welsh mountains to give some sunshine. Where the sun comes through, it'll become quite pleasant in a somewhat lighter South Westerly breeze with top temperatures around 18 or maybe 19C.

Where you keep cloud, however, 15 or 16C is more likely. Over Scotland and Northern Ireland, you're likely to stay more cloudy, and that'll give patchy rain and drizzle mostly in the North and West. A South West wind will also be more noticeable particularly in the North, with the best of the brightness over Fife, Lothian and The Borders

An approaching Atlantic system will bring heavier bursts of rain to the North and West of Scotland and perhaps towards Donegal sometime after dark. Elsewhere the weather should stay much the same, with often large amounts of cloud that'll continue to give patchy mostly light rain and drizzle in the West. Most parts stay dry though, with skies breaking at times in the East and South and where you have shelter from a South Westerly wind that'll freshen in the North.

A few clear intervals are possible perhaps leading to mist a few fog patches towards the South East, where winds will be lighter. For most though it'll be another relatively mild night, with minimum temperatures mostly in the range 7 to 11C.