Weekend weather: Showers, sunshine and strong winds as UK faces mixed conditions

The UK is set for an unsettled weekend as a series of weather fronts bring a mix of rain, wind and occasional sunny spells, according to the latest Met Office forecast.

Saturday: Rain sweeping east, humid and windy later

Saturday will begin on a damp note, with a band of rain pushing steadily eastwards across the country. While this initial rainfall is expected to ease through the morning, western and upland areas will continue to see patchy drizzle and overcast conditions.

Further east, some regions may catch brighter interludes, particularly in sheltered spots and lee-side areas, where temperatures could climb into the low twenties and feel muggy. However, the increased humidity may trigger a scattering of heavy, potentially thundery showers during the afternoon.

Later in the day, a more organised area of heavy rain is forecast to arrive from the west, bringing strengthening winds and a blustery end to the day. By evening, this rain will spread across much of the country, with the northwest potentially experiencing isolated thunderstorms and gusty conditions.

Overnight, skies will begin to clear from the west, but scattered showers will continue, particularly in northern and western parts. Winds will remain strong, with coastal gales possible.

Sunday: Sunny spells and blustery showers

Sunday will offer a brief respite as early rain moves away to the east. In its wake, many areas will see a mixture of sunshine and showers. These showers will be heaviest and most frequent across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, with the risk of hail and thunder.

Further south, conditions will be drier and brighter, although still breezy. Winds are expected to remain moderate to fresh across the UK, with strong gusts likely in exposed coastal areas. A continued risk of gales remains for parts of the north.

Temperatures will start on the mild side but are forecast to settle near seasonal norms. The northwest will feel notably cooler, while the southeast could hold onto some warmth, with highs around 19 to 20°C.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “There’ll be some brighter spells coming through – a little bit of sunshine, most likely in parts of the east – but generally fairly cloudy conditions. We’ll see those showers coming and going, particularly in parts of the west. Temperature-wise, it’s still reasonably mild and feeling quite humid, certainly through the morning. But it’s going to turn cooler as the weekend progresses.”