Sunshine, gales and heavy rain predicted in mixed weather forecast

Sunshine, gales and heavy rain are all forecast over the coming days as the weather swings from “relatively balmy conditions to relatively cool”, the Met Office said.

Frost is possible overnight on Saturday, then Sunday is forecast to be a dry and bright day for many.

Monday could see thicker cloud and some outbreaks of rain, then gales along coasts and over high ground in northern and western parts of the UK are possible on Monday night, the forecaster said.

And Tuesday is expected to be unsettled and windy, but unusually mild for October, with some heavy rain and temperatures likely to reach the low 20s.

Wednesday could see severe gales across the Western Isles of Scotland, and there is the potential for more than 100mm of rainfall in parts of the Highlands in 48 hours.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “The next few days will bring a smorgasbord of weather types, with swings from relatively balmy conditions to relatively cool. All typical of the variability we can expect with autumnal weather.”

Saturday is set to begin with a scattering of showers feeding in from the north and west.

Met Office chief forecaster Andy Page said: “Some of these showers will bring larger rainfall totals, mainly in north-western parts of the UK.

“Temperatures in the south – especially in longer spells between showers – will reach around 15C.

“Clearing skies during Saturday evening – courtesy of a transient ridge of high pressure – will bring cooler conditions overnight, with the possibility of frost in more prone spots in northern parts of the UK.

“On Sunday, many locations will have a dry and bright day with sunny spells, and any remaining showers will fade away.”

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone added: “Monday is likely to be influenced by a frontal system spreading from west to east across the UK, bringing thicker cloud and some outbreaks of rain.

“A deepening area of low pressure to the North West of the UK brings the prospect of gales along coasts and over high ground in northern and western parts of the UK for Monday night, which is partly driven by a strong and active jet stream.

“Currently, however, these conditions are not likely to result in the need for severe weather warnings.”

Tuesday is set to be unsettled and windy, but unusually mild for October, particularly in eastern and south-eastern parts of England, the Met Office said.

Temperatures are likely to reach the low 20s in the warmest spots before cooler air returns later in the day.

A band of rain will move across the UK, some of it heavy, before brighter and fresher conditions arrive from the west, but with some showers across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Overnight gales in the north and west will ease during Tuesday morning, but northern Scotland could experience further gales during the rest of Tuesday.

Wednesday has the potential for severe gales across the Western Isles of Scotland, and there could be over 100mm of rainfall in 48 hours between Wednesday and Thursday, Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said.