UK weather: Temperatures set to change – as new Met Office warnings issued for wind and rain

Milder temperatures are set to return to the UK over the weekend after a period of heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures – but the change will bring wet and windy weather for many.

A stream of cold Arctic air will prompt snow and ice hazards which will continue ahead of the weekend for many in the northern half of the country, according to the Met Office.

But the Arctic air is set to be displaced from the north and west from Friday, bringing an Atlantic influence with milder air eventually returning.

However, while temperatures will increase from the chills of recent days, the Met Office said the change in airmass would also bring much windier weather for Sunday and Monday.

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A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for Sunday across the UK, except Shetland and southeast England.

The warning runs for 24 hours from 6am on Sunday, and the Met Office warned winds of up to 70mph could hit exposed coasts, with up to 60mph inland.

Yellow weather warnings for rain also cover most of Wales, the northwest of England and southwest and central Scotland from northwest of Inverness to Glasgow.

The warnings for Scotland will last from midday on Sunday until midnight, while the warnings for Wales and England will last 24 hours from 6am on Sunday.

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‘Windy weather for many and some heavy rain’

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Hayter said: “Conditions will stay cold on Friday, but a change in weather type is on the way, bringing milder air for the UK during the course of the weekend.

“This change will initially be relatively benign in terms of weather impacts, with a dry Friday and start to Saturday for many in the south of the UK.

“The Atlantic influence will then introduce some wet and windy weather, with a deep area of low pressure approaching from the west on Sunday.

“While detail is still being worked out, we expect windy weather for many and some heavy rain in the west and so we’ve issued warnings for Sunday for wind and rain. Watch out for updates to these warnings on Friday and Saturday as the forecast develops.”

The exception to the warmer start to the weekend is in northern and western Scotland, with showers set to continue on Friday ahead of some rain on Saturday.

Snow melt and continued rain over the weekend could bring an additional hazard for those in the north of Scotland.