A mild and windy start to Wednesday for most places as a developing low pressure system runs north-eastwards across northern Britain. This system will be bringing rain to many areas today with strong to gale force winds, but it is quite fast-moving so clearer, more showery conditions will soon be following on from the west.

It's a wet start to the day across much of northern and western Britain with some locally heavy and persistent spells of rain around, particularly across higher ground. That rain will continue to push eastwards today, reaching East Anglia and southeast England this afternoon. Clearer conditions, already coming into the far west, will then extend to most areas today with sunny spells developing, but further showers will break out, these heaviest and most frequent towards the north and west.

Top temperatures today will be in the range of 16°C or 17°C but those values will tend to be reached this morning towards the south and east ahead of that rain band with cooler and fresher air following that rain and temperatures dropping back a degree or two. Meanwhile, strong winds will ease for a time as that rain clears, but freshen up again later, especially towards the northwest.

The last of any cloud and rain will soon clear the far southeast to leave many areas dry tonight with clear spells, but showers will continue across Scotland and Northern Ireland, heaviest and most frequent across western Scotland. Tomorrow sees further showers affecting the north and west but for many southern and eastern regions there will be plenty of dry and bright weather around.

METEOROLOGIST: BARBER

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Into October and the Atlantic takes charge with generally typical conditions expected for the time of year in most regions...