Rayleigh (Essex) weather

Headline:

Unsettled with outbreaks of rain.

Today:

A band of rain and low cloud moving through the area early morning, turning heavy at times. The rain easing in the afternoon, to become mainly dry by the evening. Blustery winds expected. Maximum temperature 19 °C.

Tonight:

Generally dry with plenty of low cloud, and a continued risk of some light rain at times. Mist and hill fog possible in places. Minimum temperature 16 °C.

Thursday:

Mainly dry with plenty of low cloud at first. The cloud slowly lifting through the morning to leave some brighter spells later on. Gusty winds developing, particularly along the coast. Maximum temperature 23 °C.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Unsettled and cloudy with blustery showers and longer spells of rain possible through the period, becoming heavy at times. Turning colder on Sunday.

It is likely to be fairly unsettled at first, with areas of rain or showers, most widespread across central, southern and eastern areas, perhaps accompanied by some strong winds. Into next week, a northwest-southeast split is most likely, with some further rain or showers in southern and eastern areas, closest to an area of low pressure, whilst the best chance of longer, drier spells will be towards the north and northwest, where some patchy fog and rural frost are possible. It will also turn colder, as a northerly flow becomes established for a time. Later in the period, more widely drier and settled conditions could develop as high pressure becomes slightly more influential, although probably still with a few coastal showers. Temperatures should gradually return closer to average.

By the beginning of October, confidence is very low in the weather regimes most likely to affect the UK. On balance, slow-moving weather patterns are most likely, with high pressure probably close to the UK at times, at least initially. This should offer some occasional periods of dry weather, but there is always the chance in this type of setup that areas of low pressure nearby could impact parts of the UK, leading to some wetter conditions at times. Temperatures will likely fluctuate either side of, but often close to, average.