Weather trend: Briefly calmer before gusty, wet weekend

A very mixed period ahead for the UK and Ireland, with temperature swings and storms in both countries.

The outlook begins with periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms breaking out across Ireland on Tuesday, otherwise it is generally dry outside smaller showers in northern England towards the evening.

From Wednesday, it remains mostly dry other than further, quick showers. The potential for a sharp outbreak of storms around London is a risk, this would be short-lived but see heavy downpours within a short time.

Following this, it becomes more changeable towards the bank holiday weekend from Friday. This is due to the arrival of multiple frontal systems from the Atlantic, bringing more regular periods of rain pushing east.

First to the north-west before spreading further across the weekend. Stronger winds return at this time, too, for a blustery long weekend.

Once these systems pass there is a roller-coaster in the outlook, first with a rise in temperatures until mid-week followed by a noticeable drop, and a subsequent rise again towards the following weekend.