Cloudy, mild and breezy, with drizzly showers and a few brighter spells in the south
A grey, murky start across North West England with low cloud widespread on the coasts and hill fog over the fells and Pennines. Patchy drizzle and light showers are most likely over higher ground in Cumbria, east Lancashire and the Pennines, while many lower areas stay mainly dry but dull. A brisk south-westerly wind makes it feel blustery, particularly on coasts and hills.
This afternoon the cloud thins in places to give some brighter spells, best towards Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester later. A band of showery rain may cross Greater Manchester and east Cheshire for a time, with a few heavier bursts possible but not certain. Showers continue over the Lake District and Pennine hills, and rain over the Cumbrian mountains becomes more persistent this evening and overnight, spreading into parts of Lancashire later. The south stays mostly dry but cloudy tonight.
Mild for October with highs of 17C to 19C in the south and around Liverpool and Chester, 15C to 17C in lowland Cumbria and 12C to 14C on the hills. Overnight lows of around 7C in rural Cumbria, 10C to 13C further south. Gusts of 25 to 35 mph on exposed coasts and 35 to 45 mph over the Pennines and highest fells ease through the afternoon, with winds light by the end of the night.
