The Met Office has identified 17 areas across Scotland and Northern Ireland that are set for heavy rain on Friday, with the heaviest downpours concentrated in central Scotland. The wet weather follows an unsettled night, with some showers expected to turn heavy and thundery before moving southeast.
Areas affected on Friday
Forecast maps for around 8.45am show rain affecting parts of Scotland, including heavier bursts around the Glasgow area, while further showers are scattered across northern and western Scotland. The Scottish areas listed are: Perthshire, Angus, Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire, Kinross-shire, Fife, West Lothian, and Inverness-shire.
In Northern Ireland, the affected counties are Armagh, Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry (Derry), and Tyrone.
Forecast for the rest of the UK
Further south, much of England and Wales will remain hot on Friday before a weak cold front brings cooler and cloudier weather in from the west. The Met Office said in its latest forecast: “Staying hot across much of England and Wales before a weak cold front brings cooler, cloudier weather in from the west. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible in the southeast.”
There is also the possibility of isolated thunderstorms developing across the southeast during the afternoon.
Weekend outlook
Into the weekend, Saturday will bring sunny spells alongside scattered showers, with the heaviest expected in the southeast. Sunday is forecast to be mostly dry and sunny before rain reaches the northwest later in the day. Wetter and breezier conditions are then expected to become more widespread on Monday.
From August 17, rain is expected to move in from the Atlantic and affect many parts of the UK. The heaviest rain is most likely over higher ground in the northwest, while temperatures should stay close to or slightly above average. Conditions are expected to turn drier for many areas as the period continues towards August 26, although some rain could still affect the north. There is also a chance of thunderstorms in the south, with temperatures likely to stay above average.
