UPDATE FOR THE WEEKEND & KEY POINTS FOR NEXT WEEKS WEATHER

Issued 1200 17/03/04

A very unsettled period for the weekend as two deep lows move across the UK; rapidly changing pressures, up to 3cm of rainfall in the S and Midlands Friday-Saturday and up to 2cm of rainfall in the N Saturday-Sunday. Gusty winds up to 50mph in the south and 60mph in the N.

A colder period next week with wintry showers in places in the N and with hail and thunder and gusty winds likely especially in the W of the UK. Perhaps another wet and windy spell from the NW by the end of next week preceded by some snow mainly on northern hills before it settles down again and pressure rises from the W.