There are some hints of a change in the weather as we move through the second half of May, but confidence is currently rather low. Forecast models are suggesting that high pressure is set to bring increasingly settled conditions from later next week, but with east or north-easterly winds eastern areas may be rather cool and cloudy whilst western parts turn warmer and sunnier. This is a long way off though and it could be that southern parts in particular continue to have the risk of seeing further changeable conditions.

Back to today and it's a rather mixed picture across Britain and Ireland with a lot of cloud around. This cloud is thick enough to bring some outbreaks of rain with it across northern areas in particular. Towards the south it is mainly dry albeit feeling rather cool in a brisk easterly wind. Changes today will again be very slow as many northern regions remain cloudy with further bursts of generally light rain, with some rain also affecting parts of Ireland at times. Elsewhere some brighter spells will develop, especially in the south where any sunshine will help lift temperatures, but showery outbreaks of rain are expected to develop later this afternoon and evening.

As we move through tonight the rain is expected to become concentrated to an area across northern England and over into Ireland. Meanwhile to the north it will become clearer and chilly with a touch of frost in rural spots whilst the south will turn drier but remain rather cloudy and mild. The weekend will start off cloudy and damp across those central and northern areas of England and Ireland whilst southern districts will be dry and rather cloudy. The best of the weather across northern parts of Scotland and here it will be a fine day with sunny spells. Elsewhere the rain should peter out with many parts seeing a dry if generally cloudy end to the day. Sunday is then expected to be dry and bright across many northern and western areas, but the southeast will be breezy and cool with some rain around.

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After yesterday's much brighter weather it is back to cloudy skies with outbreaks of rain at times for many regions today. Much of the rain is on the light side however, but it will make for a rather damp and cool day. Sunshine will be limited, with the best of this likely to be across the far north of Scotland.

Many places will remain cloudy today with further outbreaks of rain from time to time, the heaviest and most persistent of these across northern hills where snow is also likely and towards the southwest where showery bursts of rain will be heavy at times. The far north of Scotland will remain dry with some good sunny spells, whilst across some central and southern counties of England some hazy sunshine will break through although this may help to set off a few showers later this afternoon. Temperatures for many will be close to or just below normal, but feeling warmer in any sunshine whilst winds will be generally light at first before picking up in the south as a fresh easterly develops.

These easterly winds will extend to many places overnight, becoming quite strong around exposed coasts at times. It will remain cloudy across many parts overnight with outbreaks of rain continuing across central and northern regions although the far north of Scotland and southern counties of England will be drier. Friday will see little in the way of change with that patchy rain continuing across central and northern areas whilst other regions will be somewhat drier and brighter. Later in the day showery outbreaks of rain are expected to move into southern England and some of these could be on the heavy side. Looking ahead to the weekend and much of northern Britain and Ireland is expected to be bright and rather cool but for the south showery rain is expected at times, occasionally heavy in places.

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