Thursday
There will be some patchy rain across Northern Ireland, Wales and the south east of England this morning and a few spots through the Midlands. Dry across the rest of the country with varying cloud and some bright or sunnier spells. Just some light rain for Northern Ireland and western Scotland in the afternoon with most places fair and dry. Maximums of 2 to 4C in north east Scotland, elsewhere 8 to 11C.
Thursday night
It turns windy and wet with rain into Northern Ireland in the evening. This becomes heavy as it spreads into western parts of England, Scotland and Wales overnight. Winds will be at gale force in the west. Continued dry to the east. Lows of 2 to 5C in the east, 6 to 10C in the west.
Friday
Very windy today with gales and a risk of severe gales in the north west. A dry morning for East Anglia and south east England but rain, heavy at times across the rest of the country this morning spreads to all areas in the afternoon. A wet, windy but mild night to come with gales and heavy spells of rain but this clears all but south east England before morning. Highs of 10 to 14C.
New Year's Eve
A windy morning with gales moderating. Rain in the south east of England soon clears as it turns drier and sunnier. Plenty of showers will affect northern and western areas through the day. with sunnier spells for England and Wales. More rain moves into most places this evening and tonight. Mild in the south with highs of 10 to 13C, 5 to 7C in the north.
New Year's Day
A brisk north west wind will bring south colder air on New Year's Day. Expect showers for western Scotland, some heavy with a few wintry inland. A few showers are also likely around western coasts. Elsewhere it's a dry day with good sunny spells. Highs of 4 to 9C.