Issued: 1000hrs Tuesday 21st February 2017
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Varied temperatures

An unsettled outlook for the rest of this week and beyond as areas of low pressure and various frontal systems cross the British Isles. Rain will be frequent, although there will be some brighter spells too. Becoming cooler later this week, but by the weekend milder air should return from the south-west.

For the weather for the next few days click here

Friday 24/02/17
Starting cool, with local frost, particularly in north. A mixture of sunshine and showers. Rain may be locally frequent where showers band together, particularly north-western areas. A cool west to north-westerly breeze, turning south-westerly. Fronts moving back in from the Atlantic bring thickening cloud and later rain to western regions. Temperatures 5 to 8C north & east, 8 to 11C south & south-west.

Saturday 25/02/17
Fronts are likely to spread eastwards across the country, bringing cloud and rain to many areas. Heaviest and most prolonged falls of rain in the west & north-west, possible snow over the Scottish Highlands. Drier and brighter toward the south-east of Britain. Strong to locally gale force south-westerly winds. Mild for most places, 9 to 12C, but colder in northern Scotland.

Sunday 26/02/17
A mild south-westerly flow influences the British Isles. Many areas should stay dry for a good part of the day. Brightest in the east. Low cloud and drizzly rain in the west of England & Wales may turn increasingly persistent, whilst slow-moving fronts across western Scotland and Northern Ireland may result in heavy rain for many hours. Breezy, but mild, highs 9 to 13C.

Monday 27/02/17
Detail uncertain, but an unsettled outlook is likely as fronts trail slowly south-eastwards across the country. Some heavy and persistent falls of rain likely, probably extending increasingly across southern Britain. Showery in the north. Blustery winds. Mild in the south at 10 to 12C, but turning cooler from the north, nearer 7 or 8C.

Tuesday 28/02/17
Generally unsettled with areas of rain or showers moving around slowly, some heavy bursts at times. Northern areas may fare better as pressure builds here, whilst low pressure tends to slip southwards. Cooler than recently, highs 5 to 10C.

Wednesday 01/03/17
Confidence low. Pressure may build, bringing brighter conditions and some sunshine. Showers may linger in some places. Local frost possible in the morning. On the cool side during the day, highs 5 to 10C.