Severe gales Heavy rain spreading east seiten=4 abk=focus

Friday
After a cold, bright start, persistent and heavy rain across Northern Ireland and northern Scotland is forecast to sweep into all but East Anglia, the East Midlands and south east England this morning as the winds strengthen in the west. A wet and windy afternoon then for all areas as the rain becomes heavier spreading into south east England. Gusts of 60 to 70 mph will affect exposed western coasts. Expect maximum temperatures of 8 to 11C north to south.

Friday Night
Very windy with gale to severe gales across much of the United Kingdom this evening and tonight with gusts perhaps in excess of 70 mph across Scotland and northern England with 50-60 mph for most areas. Rain this evening is expected to clear but more rain to come across Scotland tonight though it won't be too heavy. Expect minimums of 5 to 8C with 10C across south west England.

Saturday
Continued windy with gales across eastern parts of Scotland and eastern England which only slowly moderate through the day. Apart from some heavy snow showers across northern Scotland, it's a dry, mostly sunny morning. In the afternoon outbreaks of rain are expected to spread into Northern Ireland and the far west of Britain. Central and eastern areas remain dry with sunny spells. In the evening we'll see rain and drizzle spreading into all parts and will persist overnight with a risk of some sleet and snow across the hills of northern Scotland for a time. Expect highs of 5 to 11C north to south.

Sunday
Cloudy across the United Kingdom this morning and misty with sporadic outbreaks of mainly light rain and drizzle. Still quite windy across Scotland today. In the afternoon the rain turns heavy across Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Wales. As it turns colder and windier there is a risk of heavy snow developing across Scotland and perhaps northern parts of England this evening and tonight with snow showers across Wales. Elsewhere it turns dry and clear but perhaps too much windy across the country for a frost. Expect highs of 7 to 13C north to south but will be dropping later.