Headline:

Cloudy overnight. Outbreaks of rain Friday, clearing later.

This Evening and Tonight:

Cloud thickening overnight with an increasing breeze. Patchy rain, mainly affecting the Peak District before midnight, turning more persistent and heavier later, before spreading east across much of the region by dawn. Minimum temperature 5 °C.

Friday:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, often light but with the occasional heavier burst. Drier, brighter conditions returning from the west by late afternoon and into the early evening. Breezy. Maximum temperature 12 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Breezy Saturday, sunny intervals and occasional showers, cooler. Dry start Sunday, turning windy with heavy rain moving southeast, brighter later. Breezy Monday bright spells and showers. Temperatures returning to average.

High pressure to the southwest of the UK, with weather fronts rounding the high to affect northern parts at times, is likely the dominant patter through this period. Wetter and windier weather can be expected in the north, while further south, drier and more settled conditions are more likely. There is a chance of deeper lows moving across the UK at times, bringing wetter and windier weather more widely. Later in the period, high pressure may spread across much of the UK leading to more widespread settled conditions. Whilst temperatures will be generally near to or a little above average, some colder interludes are possible, especially in the north, where there could be some wintry showers at times.

High pressure will likely be dominant at the start of this period. As such, plenty of dry weather seems most likely, although changes in wind direction could lead to quite marked differences in cloud amounts and temperature from day to day. There may however be some wetter and windier interludes at times, these being more likely in the north. There is a chance that high pressure becomes less dominant later into April, increasing the probability of more places seeing some rain and possible stronger winds from time to time. Overall, temperatures will likely be near to or a little above average.