Stormont Castle (County Down) weather

Headline:

Showers for Friday, which ease through the afternoon.

Today:

Scattered showers through the morning, focused west of Lough Neagh. Showers easing through the afternoon as the brighter spells increase. Strong west to southwest winds, easing towards early evening. Maximum temperature 8 °C.

Tonight:

Mainly dry for the evening with clear spells and easing winds. Cloud increasing in eastern districts overnight, with some scattered showers developing here by dawn. Minimum temperature 5 °C.

Saturday:

Mix of scattered light showers and limited brighter spells for the morning. Cloud thickening for afternoon, with occasional rain spreading from south later in day, as strong southeast winds develop. Maximum temperature 9 °C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Southeast winds maintaining rather cloudy skies, with showers or longer periods of light to moderate rain focused over eastern areas.

A gradual transition to more settled conditions is expected, as high pressure builds to the north of the UK and low pressure eases away to the south. This will bring a strengthening easterly wind over the Christmas period, making it feel noticeably colder than of late. Whilst there will be a fair amount of dry weather, a few showers will still be possible, particularly across eastern and southern parts which may be wintry in places, more especially over high ground. Temperatures will likely trend below average with the potential for frost, especially in the north where winds will be lighter. Towards New Year, high pressure may become centred more towards the west of the UK, allowing a greater chance of some wet weather to spread into parts of the UK.

High pressure will probably be close to the UK at the start of this period, perhaps most likely centred to the west, and whilst this may allow relatively settled and dry conditions with a risk of frost and fog initially, there will be the chance of some occasional wet weather at times, perhaps more especially in the north and east. Given some relatively cold air close to the UK, this may bring the chance of some wintry hazards in places. Towards mid-month, there is the potential for rather more changeable conditions to develop more widely, although confidence in this aspect of the forecast is currently low.