Storm Kathleen is bringing damage and destruction today, as well as unusually warm temperatures and severe gales for the north and west. The coming week remains unsettled with more rain at times but we should have a few drier days at least...

Saturday morning has been very wet across northern Scotland and there's also been showers in the west. Many central and eastern regions have been mostly dry with the best of any sunny spells in the east. Winds have been steadily strengthening in the west.

This afternoon will bring more showers in the west, gradually pushing into central regions. Having said that, many places will stay dry this afternoon with a mix of sunny spells and quite a lot of cloud. The main feature this afternoon will be the wind with inland gusts reaching 40-50MPH and gusts up to 70MPH around Atlantic and Irish Sea coasts. Temperatures will be unusually warm for early April at 12C to 21C.

Heavy showers will merge into heavy, thundery rain across Wales and south west England this evening with the wet weather pushing into northern England. More heavy showers will follow from the west later in the night but some places will miss the showers and stay dry all night. Winds remain strong and gusts with gales and severe gales continuing in the west and north. It will be a mild night but not quite as warm as last night with temperatures of 5C to 11C.

Unsettled weather continues through Sunday. A band of showers will merge into longer spells of rain through south west England, Wales, the Midlands and northern England though the south east should stay mainly dry. Sunshine and showers are likely for Scotland and Northern Ireland. It will remain very windy with gales or severe gales around Atlantic and Irish Sea coasts one more Temperatures range from 8C to 18C. So still very mild or warm but a few degrees cooler than today.

The next area of low pressure arrives in the west on Monday. Most places start dry with sunny spells but outbreaks of rain will push northwards up the western side of the country while central and eastern regions stay dry but turn cloudy. Temperatures continue to be mild at 7C to 17C.

Tuesday starts wet and windy in central and northern regions while the south should be drier. The wet weather will clear away through the day to be replaced by sunny spells and showers though the rain may not clear from eastern Scotland and north east England until evening. The strong northwesterly wind will bring cooler temperatures of 4C to 12C.

A new area of low pressure moves in from the Atlantic on Wednesday. Cloud and outbreaks of showery rain will push eastwards across the country through the day. Temperatures will be cool at 6C to 12C though Wednesday night will be very mild.

A ridge of high pressure builds up from the south on Thursday bringing a mostly dry but rather cloudy day. The best of any sunny spells are likely to be in the south while northern and western Scotland could have more rain at times. A mild day with temperatures ranging from 7C to 14C.

Low pressure deepens on the Atlantic on Friday and into the weekend. Expect strengthening winds with heavy rain from the Atlantic with winds eventually turning into the north bringing colder temperatures again. 

Summary: Staying very unsettled with more rain at times. A few drier days mixed in and temperatures often mild.
 

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