Weather and climate change

Headline:

Staying unsettled for many. Mostly fine across northwest Scotland.

This Evening and Tonight:

Areas of rain over the southern half of the UK spread west with the risk of thunderstorms. Dry elsewhere with low cloud reforming in some northern and eastern parts. Further showers arriving into the east coast during the early hours.

Friday:

Cloudy with some heavy showers across central parts which could be thundery. Mainly dry with sunny spells across northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland and southwest England. Warm again in the northwest.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Remaining unsettled for the Bank Holiday. Rain at times, with heavy showers but sunnier spells from time to time. Temperatures generally above average away from cloud and rain.

Updated: 17:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 2 May 2024

As we move into next week, the chance of rain and showers reduces as high pressure builds to the into the UK. This will bring more in the way of dry and fine weather for most areas, although there is still a chance of some showers in places, and a risk also of some more persistent rain rounding the high into north-western parts of the country. The high is likely to maintain influence into the weekend before starting to weaken the following week. So a continuation of fine conditions next weekend seems likely, before a return of less settled conditions by the end of the period. Temperatures are expected to be slightly above normal for early May.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 2 May 2024

During the longer range outlook period, there is a greater chance of unsettled weather returning, especially across the south. This means that spells of wet weather are likely for most, notably across southern or central areas, while drier conditions on balance are more likely further north. There are no strong signs for any exceptional temperatures either above or below average, but warm days are possible as are some chilly nights.

Updated: 16:00 (UTC+1) on Thu 2 May 2024