Heavy Rain To Give Way To A Drier Weekend Across Cumbria
Cumbria is set for a very wet and blustery start before conditions become noticeably calmer and drier over the weekend.
Heavy rain is expected across much of the county, making for a thoroughly unsettled start to the five day outlook. Daytime temperatures are forecast to range from around 13C across the fells to approximately 16C in coastal areas.
The weather picture is expected to improve significantly by Saturday, when rain becomes much less widespread and longer dry periods develop. Coastal areas including Whitehaven and Silloth are expected to see particularly low rainfall chances, although some showers could remain possible across higher and inland areas.
Saturday is forecast to bring temperatures of around 16C to 17C for most parts of Cumbria. While conditions will not be completely dry everywhere, the overall change from the wet weather is expected to be noticeable, giving residents and visitors a better opportunity to spend time outdoors.
Sunday is expected to be the driest day in the five day outlook. Rain chances are forecast to fall below 10 per cent during the daytime across almost the whole county, although temperatures will be slightly cooler than Saturday at around 14C to 15C.
The improvement will not last throughout the whole outlook, however, with more unsettled conditions expected to return on Monday. Widespread showers are forecast, with many parts of the county facing a 50 to 60 per cent chance of rain.
Temperatures are expected to become slightly milder on Monday despite the return of wetter conditions. Daytime highs could reach between 17C and 18C in many areas, providing a relatively mild start to the new working week.
Showery weather is expected to continue into Tuesday, although rainfall should generally be lighter than the conditions forecast for Monday. Temperatures are expected to remain fairly steady, with highs of around 16C to 17C across the county.
There will be noticeable differences between coastal and inland locations as the weather changes. Whitehaven and Silloth are expected to become considerably drier by Saturday, while higher ground and inland locations such as Alston could retain a greater risk of showers.
Alston is expected to experience particularly wet conditions during the opening day of the forecast, with a 91 per cent chance of rain and a daytime high of around 13.8C. Saturday is expected to remain somewhat showery, while Sunday should be largely dry before wetter conditions return early next week.
Ambleside is also facing a particularly wet start, with a 98 per cent chance of rain and temperatures reaching around 15.8C. Conditions are expected to improve substantially over the weekend, with the chance of rain falling to 13 per cent on Saturday and just seven per cent on Sunday.
Appleby is forecast to have a damp start, with a 55 per cent chance of rain and temperatures around 15.2C. The outlook becomes considerably drier through the weekend, with Sunday expected to bring only a six per cent chance of rain.
Aspatria is expected to experience heavy rain initially, with a 95 per cent chance of precipitation and temperatures reaching around 15.8C. Sunday is forecast to provide the better conditions, with mostly dry weather and temperatures around 15C.
Barrow is also expected to see significant rainfall at the start of the outlook, with a 96 per cent chance of rain and temperatures reaching approximately 16.6C. The weekend forecast is much more settled, with rainfall chances falling to 13 per cent on Saturday and seven per cent on Sunday.
Brampton is forecast to experience heavy rain initially, with an 87 per cent chance of precipitation and temperatures around 15.6C. Conditions should improve towards Sunday, when the chance of rain is expected to fall to around six per cent before showers return on Monday.
The contrasting forecast means the weekend could provide a useful break from the unsettled conditions affecting the county at the start of the period. Sunday in particular is expected to offer the most widespread opportunity for dry weather, although temperatures will remain relatively modest.
The return of showers on Monday and Tuesday means the improvement is likely to be temporary rather than the beginning of a prolonged settled spell. Residents planning outdoor activities can therefore expect a mixture of conditions across the five day period, with the driest window concentrated around Saturday and Sunday.
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