Wet and windy start, then sunshine and blustery showers as it turns cooler
A wet and windy start to Friday across the North West, with rain heaviest over the Lake District, Bowland and Pennine hills during the morning, along with low cloud and hill fog. Coasts of Cumbria and Lancashire brighten from mid-morning, with the rain clearing Greater Manchester and east Cheshire around lunchtime.
This afternoon brings sunny spells and blustery showers, some heavy, especially across Cumbria, around Morecambe Bay and over the western Pennines. Merseyside and west Cheshire stay drier for longer. Showers continue this evening and overnight, most frequent in the north, with a risk of hail and thunder in the heaviest ones. A much colder night than of late, falling to around 7C to 9C.
A mild start of 15C to 16C turns cooler through the afternoon, with 12C to 14C on lower ground and only 7C to 10C on the hills. Strong westerly winds gust 35mph to 45mph on the Irish Sea coasts and 45mph to 55mph over the Pennine tops around midday, easing inland this evening but staying blustery on the coast.
