UK Forecast Brings Heavy Showers and Thunderstorms This Weekend

Unsettled weather is expected across the United Kingdom this weekend, with heavy showers, gusty winds and possible thunderstorms and hail affecting several regions. According to YourWeather's October 9 forecast, Saturday will bring further rain and brief sunny intervals, while temperatures are expected to reach 13C to 15C in the south and 11C to 13C in the north. The forecast follows a week of passing low-pressure systems that have repeatedly brought rain and clearer spells.

YourWeather reported that persistent showers had affected much of the country overnight, with heavy and prolonged rainfall continuing across western areas early Friday. Northern Wales and western Scotland experienced particularly wet conditions, accompanied by strengthening southwesterly winds. Showers were also expected across southwest England, including the hills of Devon and Cornwall, and throughout much of Wales.

As the day progressed, rain was forecast to affect Northern Ireland, western Scotland and parts of northern England. YourWeather expected showers to spread through central and southern Scotland later in the afternoon, while scattered and occasionally heavy downpours continued in northern England.

Some areas of England and Wales could see brighter skies as the cold front moves south. However, the forecast indicated that sunny intervals would interrupt rather than end the unsettled conditions. Friday's temperatures were expected to remain below 20C nationwide. YourWeather forecast highs of 17C to 19C across southern and southeastern England, including London, Cambridge, Canterbury, Exeter and Plymouth.

Further north, Durham, Lancaster and Edinburgh were expected to reach 15C to 17C. Cooler conditions were forecast in the northwest, with highs of 12C in Tobermory, 13C in Aviemore and 14C in Bangor. During Friday evening, showers were expected to remain frequent along western coastal areas, particularly in Scotland. Heavy rain and gusty winds were also forecast across southeastern England during the early evening as the cold front passed, with conditions expected to ease later.

Saturday's outlook called for another unsettled period as a showery air mass brings scattered but potentially heavy downpours across much of the UK overnight and into the day. Thunderstorms and hail remain possible, while gusty winds could reach 40 mph or more in northwestern areas. Despite the showers, some sunshine is expected between periods of rain during Saturday afternoon.

YourWeather forecast temperatures of 13C to 15C in the south and 11C to 13C in northern areas, with brisk winds maintaining changeable conditions. Similar weather is expected on Sunday, when brighter intervals will alternate with longer periods of rain and showers. The weekend forecast therefore points to continued variation between wet spells and temporary breaks in the cloud.

Earlier in the week, the BBC reported that a southward shift in the jet stream had allowed colder northerly winds to replace the milder airflow affecting the UK. Its October 6 forecast anticipated the autumn's coldest night so far by midweek, with the first frost of the season possible in some locations.

The BBC forecast minimum temperatures of 5C to 7C in most areas by dawn Thursday, while the coldest parts of northern and eastern England and eastern Scotland could fall to just a degree or two above freezing. Frost was considered possible on grass and car windscreens. The BBC also forecast rainfall for England and Wales, particularly southern and eastern England, where 20mm to 30mm could fall in 24 hours.

At the time of its October 6 report, nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales remained in drought. Temperatures were expected to recover later in the week as westerly winds brought milder air into England and Wales. The BBC forecast that eastern areas could reach 20C again on Friday, while the latest weekend outlook points to cooler temperatures and continued showers across the country.