The area of high pressure that has given many regions a drier and quieter period of weather this week is now losing its grip across the country as low pressure out over the North Atlantic winds itself up and heads our way. Increasingly windy conditions will develop during the next couple of days, peaking on Sunday as Storm Ciara sweeps in bringing heavy rain and severe gales to many.
Friday is dawning chilly in many places again with frost and fog across mainland parts of the UK, mainly towards the north and east. It's not as chilly towards the south and west where winds are already freshening up bringing more in the way of cloud with them, the cloud thick enough to bring some rain and drizzle towards the far southwest. Winds today will tend to pick up in many regions helping to clear any fog quite readily and whilst much of the mainland UK will see another fine and dry day, that thicker cloud with some rain will be pushing further east across Ireland and northern Ireland, reaching parts of southwest England and Wales this afternoon ahead of heavier and more persistent rain arriving in the far west later. Despite the wind, temperatures will be picking up towards the west with double figure maximums possible here, but for most places maximums of 6°C to 9°C are expected.
That cloud and rain accompanied by brisk winds will continue to push eastwards tonight, the rain becoming lighter and more patchy. Clearer conditions with showers will then follow from the west, most of the showers in the northwest, but with the wind and cloud cover it will be a much milder night for most places although some frost may develop over parts of Scotland later in the night. Tomorrow will see a brighter spell for many places but increasingly wet and windy weather will develop in the west during the course of the day with gales or severe gales affecting the northwest.
METEOROLOGIST: BARBER
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