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Issued: 0730 Thursday 11th August 2005
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

A mixed weekend at Old Trafford

As England prepare to take on Australia in the third match of the Ashes series, all eyes are turning to the skies. Will the weather bowl a Yorker or can we expect plenty of byes?

It might be a fair start to Thursday, but showers are forecast for the area this afternoon. These may be heavy and even thundery. They should fade later this afternoon, although we do expect interruptions to play.

Friday is expected to be bright with sunny spells and mainly dry. There may be a scattering of showers breaking out, but the risk of these not as high as on Thursday.

Saturday is the real wet one. Looks like some heavy bursts of rain spreading from the west soon after play commences on Saturday morning. This will be lasting into the afternoon and won't clear until evening, so at the moment we would expect very little play during the day.

For Sunday there is a risk of some showers remaining on Sunday morning. Cloud should break with sunny spells coming through from late morning, and then the afternoon should be dry with a brisk northwest wind, drying out the wicket.

Should Monday be needed we can look forward to a fine day. Plenty of sunshine to come for all and warming up as well.

Whatever the weather, keep the sun shining.
Simon