As we gear up for Halloween this weekend, the Met Office has issued a warning for unsettled weather conditions.
While global attention is understandably on Hurricane Melissa in the Atlantic, our local forecasters are keeping a close eye on another potential area of low pressure that could bring strong winds and rain to the western parts of the country. Working alongside Met Éireann and KNMI in the Netherlands, the UK's national meteorological service is closely monitoring this evolving system.
Currently, the Met Office does not believe it will meet the criteria to be named as a storm, but they continue to review the situation. The public is urged to stay informed with the latest forecasts, as changes could occur at short notice, reports the Manchester Evening News.
With Halloween falling on a Friday this year and many families enjoying half-term, heavy blustery showers could put a damper on traditional trick or treating festivities. Wet and windy weather is expected throughout much of the day, particularly in southern and western regions.
The strongest winds are predicted to hit Ireland and Northern Ireland, but the UK will not escape breezy conditions and showers. Looking beyond Friday and into the last weekend of October, the weather pattern remains highly unpredictable.
The Jetstream is presently highly amplified and wavy, meaning low pressure will control steering bands of downpours across the UK. Whilst some regions may experience brighter, drier intervals, many will encounter additional heavy, blustery downpours.
Additional bands of rain or showers, some torrential, are expected to sweep east or northeast across numerous areas throughout Saturday. There will be some sunny or clear intervals between the downpours.
Another blustery day is anticipated for many, again with the possibility of coastal gales developing, at least temporarily. It will be mild overnight, but daytime temperatures are generally predicted to remain around average for this time of year.
Sunday will deliver another day of sunshine and showers, with more rain approaching from the Atlantic by evening. On the opposite side of the aforementioned ocean, millions of people are enduring one of the most ferocious hurricanes on record for the region.
Thus far, 25 lives have been claimed in Haiti due to flash flooding from Hurricane Melissa, whilst tens of thousands of people were crammed into shelters in Jamaica and Cuba on Wednesday.
The devastating Category 5 storm is packing maximum winds of 185mph.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Tom Crabtree, says a low-pressure system containing "the remnants of what will then be ex-Hurricane Melissa" will traverse the far northwest of the UK early next week. "This appears to be a fairly typical autumn low-pressure system for the UK," he added.
"It will introduce some milder air and bring further spells of rain, which will be heaviest over western hills.
"There remains some uncertainty in the exact track of this low at this range, however it looks set to usher in further unsettled weather next week."