Headline:

Dry and bright start Thursday, cloudy with rain later.

Today:

A dry morning with some bright or sunny spells. Turning cloudier in the afternoon as a band of rain and hill snow spreads eastwards to most parts, accompanied by strengthening winds. Staying mostly dry towards Inverness and Nairn. Maximum temperature 8 °C.

Tonight:

A cloudy evening with rain and hill snow continuing to spread eastwards, heavy at times. Rain clearing east overnight, replaced by showers and drier spells. Strongest winds easing overnight. Minimum temperature 2 °C.

Friday:

Blustery showers feeding in from the west throughout the day, with some bright spells between showers. Snow over hills at first but becoming increasingly wintry to low levels later. Maximum temperature 7 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Showers and bright spells early Saturday, then rain and strong winds spreading north later, risk of gales. Blustery showers with gale risk easing Sunday. Mostly dry and windy on Monday.

Rather changeable conditions are expected through this period, as a series of Atlantic frontal systems track eastwards across the UK, accompanied by some strong winds at times. These will bring occasional spells of rain or showers, heaviest and most frequent in the west and northwest, with longer drier interludes likely in the south and sheltered eastern areas. Whilst temperatures will be close to average for the period as a whole, there may be opportunities for some short-lived warm spells in the south and east. Conversely, occasional colder interludes in the northwest will bring the chance of some wintry showers, especially to hills, and overnight frost.

It is probable that more blocked, or at least slowly evolving, weather patterns will become increasingly dominant through the middle of the month. Whilst confidence is low, this may result in more settled and drier conditions overall. There may, however, still be some more unsettled interludes at times, especially in the south and southwest. Later in April, the probability of more changeable and unsettled weather increases. Temperatures will probably be around or a little above normal for the period as a whole.