The Saddle (Highland) weather

Headline:

Rain spreading east with showers following. Strong winds.

Today:

Early rain, heavy in west at times will turn lighter and clear to scattered showers and bright spells in the afternoon, winds easing. Strong to gale southerly winds will ease during the afternoon. Feeling quite mild. Maximum temperature 11 °C.

Tonight:

Showery overnight, especially around western coasts, drier with some clear spells towards the Black Isle and Caithness. Remaining breezy around the coasts too. Minimum temperature 2 °C.

Thursday:

Breezy with showers through the morning, some bright spells, a drier afternoon and feeling milder in southerly winds. Rain spreading north later. Maximum temperature 11 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Remaining unsettled with showery, clustery conditions, perhaps some drier conditions on Sunday, feeling relatively mild for December.

Showers or longer spells of rain are likely to continue at first for many parts of the country, perhaps heavy at times, but gradually over the weekend the weather is expected to become more settled. Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see this change first, with spells of rain perhaps slower to clear further across the south. Into the following week, high pressure is expected to become more widely established. Winds will be light and clearer skies are likely, however this does not rule out the odd shower, especially around coasts. High pressure and settled weather will result in temperatures falling to closer to average, with overnight frosts and morning fog which could be slow to clear.

High pressure will probably remain influential across the UK during this period. This means an increasing likelihood of dry weather compared to the winter so far. Despite the greater signal for settled weather, showers or occasional bands of rain are still possible at times, especially later in the period towards January. These could be wintry in nature. Temperatures are expected to be close to normal for the time of year.