Fine Friday before rain and strengthening winds arrive overnight
After one or two isolated early showers over northern Cumbria, today turns dry across North West England as high pressure briefly builds in. Cloud will break to give brighter spells this afternoon, best towards western coasts, with highs of 16C to 18C and light winds gusting no higher than the low twenties of mph.
This evening stays dry with clear spells, but it clouds over from the west after midnight and outbreaks of rain spread in from the Irish Sea towards dawn, reaching Cumbria and coastal Lancashire first before pushing inland.
Southwesterly winds strengthen through the night, with a risk of coastal gales by dawn ahead of a wet and windy start to Saturday. Overnight lows around 9C to 11C.
