The main weather story over the next 24 hours will be that of Storm Francis which will bring some very wet and very windy weather to many regions. Northern regions are likely to see the wettest conditions whilst southern parts of the country will experience the strongest winds with gales or severe gales expected to bring the risk of some damage and disruption.
It's a very wet start to the day across all but north-eastern parts of Scotland with outbreaks of heavy rain sweeping north-eastwards. This rain continues to push north and east today, becoming slow-moving across many parts of mainland Scotland across into Northern Ireland where 3 to 4 inches of rain could fall in places by the end of the day. Clearer, more showery conditions will extend across many parts of Ireland, England and Wales, the heaviest and most frequent showers across Wales and northern England with more southern and south-eastern regions becoming mainly dry. However, the winds will strengthen with strong to gale force south-westerlies affecting many central and southern regions, gusting up to 60 MPH across inland regions, but in excess of 70 MPH around exposed coasts and hills. In the north, brisk easterlies will develop but the far north and the Northern Isles will see the best of the weather today with plenty of sunshine although it will be rather cool here with top temperatures of 13°C to 15°C. Elsewhere and temperatures won't be too far from normal, but with the wind and rain they will be pretty academic.
It remains very windy this evening and tonight with the winds only slowly easing from the west later in the night as Francis pulls out over the North Sea. Showers and longer spells of rain will continue, but tend to become confined to Northern Ireland, central and southern Scotland and northern parts of England by the morning. Wednesday will then be an improving sort of day with rain across north-eastern regions slowly easing as drier, brighter and less windy weather moves in across most areas.
METEOROLOGIST: BARBER
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