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Thursday starts with showery rain in the north west and the south eastern corners of the UK. This morning it turns drier in the south east and sunny spells develop in much of the country. Rain continues in the north west and it gradually spreads southeastwards across Scotland with cloudier skies spilling into northern England and northern Wales. 

In the south and south east temperatures reach 22C (72F) in the sunshine but in the north west maximum values will be closer to 15C (59F). See the rain and lightning radar for the latest view.

Meteo France Arpege, forecast rain, 16:00 BST Wed 5th September

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Tonight patchy outbreaks of rain push eastwards across Scotland and parts of northern England. Showery conditions follow into western Scotland. Elsewhere it remains mostly dry. 

Tomorrow blustery and heavy showers push across much of the north and west. Central and eastern England should remain mostly dry and bright. It will be windy and cool, especially in the north.

Meteo France Arpege, forecast rain, 16:00 BST Thu 6th September

Unsettled into the weekend

Through Friday the showers probably merge together in the north to give more prolonged and heavy outbreaks of rain. In the south showers are expected to be more scattered and there should be quite a lot of dry weather. It will be blustery with gales possible in exposed parts of the north and west.

The changeable theme continues into the weekend with showery outbreaks of rain likely in southern and central regions on Saturday. By Sunday high pressure will be building back in from the southwest so it should be mainly dry in much of the south and west. In the north and east the risk of showers remains. 

GFS, forecast pressure and rain, 16:00 BST Sat 8th September

North to south split next week?

Computer models currently show northern areas having changeable weather for much of next week. In the south there is more emphasis on drier and warmer periods, and at times the more settled conditions could extend northwards as high pressure builds.

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Cool weather is shown in the short term but next week it warms up. Rain is more likely in the north than in the south for most of the 16 day forecast period. View latest GEFS.