THE WEATHER

TODAY

The day starts dry for Scotland, although there will be a combination of showers and rain for southern England. The day continues to stay dry for Scotland until the evening, when eastern Scotland has a mix of showers and drizzle.

OUTLOOK

Although Thursday morning will be dry, rain moving northwards will reach southern Scotland by the early afternoon, while central areas will have rain by the evening. Friday will be similar while Saturday will be wet all day.

Shetland, Orkney:

It will be sunny and dry, although cloud will tend to build up during the afternoon. A dry but mostly cloudy evening. A near gale force easterly wind. Max temp 10-13C (50-55F). Tonight, light rainfall. Min temp 7-10C (45-50F).

Caithness, Grampians, Strathspey, Moray Firth, Inverness, Aberdeenshire, Lowlands:

A clear start. It will then be largely dry but mostly cloudy. Drizzle or light rain through the evening. There will be a moderate easterly breeze. Max temp 10-13C (50-55F). Tonight, light rainfall. Min temp 5-8C (41-46F).

Western Isles, North-west Highlands, Skye, Glen Mor, Argyll:

It will be dry with plenty of bright sunshine and lots of blue sky. The evening will be predominantly fine too. A strong easterly wind. Max temp 16-19C (61-66F). Tonight, clear skies. Min temp 7-10C (45-50F).

The Borders, the Lothians including Perth and Stirling areas, Fife, Angus including Dundee:

It looks set to be dry with some hazy sunshine for a time, but mostly cloudy with the chance of a shower later. There will be a brisk north-easterly wind. Max temp 11-14C (52-57F). Tonight, light rainfall. Min temp 6-9C (43-48F).

Glasgow area, Lanarkshire, Firth of Clyde, Ayrshire, Galloway, Dumfriesshire:

Dry with variable amounts of cloud and sunny intervals, hazy at times. Damp during the evening though with patchy rain and drizzle. A fresh easterly wind. Max temp 14-17C (57-63F). Tonight, light rainfall. Min temp 6-9C (43-48F).

Northern Ireland:

Showers in the morning and evening. A moderate easterly breeze. Max temp 15-18C (59-64F). Tonight, drizzle, then rain. Min temp 7-9C (45-48F). Wales:

A damp day with plenty of showers, heavy during the afternoon. Max temp 13-18C (55-64F). Tonight, showers, then rain. Min temp 5-9C (41-48F).

NE England, NW England, Midlands:

Damp with showers from the afternoon onward, heavy in the Midlands. Max temp 14-20C (57-68F). Tonight, Midland showers. Min temp 5-8C (41-46F).

E Anglia, Channel Is, SW England, London, SE England, Cent S England:

A damp day with plenty of showers especially in the afternoon. Max temp 10-21C (50-70F). Tonight, rain and showers. Min temp 5-10C (41-50F).