Day 3 - gales in the north.

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After a long quiet spell of weather, things are really going to change in the next 48 hours or so as a deepening low sweeps past the far north of Scotland, bringing with it plenty of wind and rain - especially for northern Britain.

The first signs of this change are already evident across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England this morning as outbreaks of rain move in from the northwest. This is all associated with that developing low which currently sits to the south of Iceland. Further rain is expected throughout the day, with the rain becoming persistent and heavy towards north-western Scotland in particular. The winds will also gradually begin to freshen, with local gales in the northwest by this evening.

Further to the south, across much of England, Ireland and Wales it is a dry picture today, albeit increasingly cloudy. There will be a few sunny spells around, the best of these towards the southeast. Temperatures everywhere will be around normal, but feeling cool as those winds pick up.

The winds will really strengthen tonight and into tomorrow across many areas, with northern England and Scotland set to see westerly gales or severe gales develop with gusts of up to 70MPH likely. Please see our Weather Watch for more details - this will be updated during the day. Southern areas will remain dry tonight, but further heavy rain is likely over north-western Britain.

Saturday will be a very blustery day, with west/north-westerly winds remaining strong for all parts. Gales will continue across the north, with gusts to 70MPH likely across southern Scotland in particular. The rain in the north will move south-eastwards during the day, dying out as it does so, and then all areas will see bright spells and blustery showers - most of the showers across Scotland.

Sunday will be by far the better day of the weekend, with the winds easing and many places seeing a dry day with sunny spells as a ridge of high pressure moves across. Looking ahead to next week, and Monday will start dry and chilly for many, but milder, wetter and windier conditions will return from the southwest for many.