It's the last weekend before Christmas and it certainly doesn't look like it will be a quiet one on the weather front.
If you're planning to get some last minute gifts or stop by the Belfast Christmas Market at City Hall ahead of its closure on Sunday, you'll want to know what conditions will be like before heading outdoors.
The weather is turning more changeable and unsettled for the end of this week and weekend with some wet and very windy weather for many.
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The Met Office has already issued a weather warning for Northern Ireland - the third warning this week. A two-day warning is in place over Saturday December 21, and Sunday December 22. The alert, both yellow warnings, are for strong winds
On Saturday, the Met Office says a period of strong winds is "likely to lead to some transport disruption". Sunday's forecast is similar, but with "prolonged periods of strong winds" which will likely lead to some disruption over the weekend, especially to travel.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Rebekah Hicks, said: “This period of disruptive weather coincides with a busy period on UK roads as the festive getaway starts for many. The area of low pressure will bring rain and strong winds on Saturday, with a chance of significant disruption especially to transport networks across the north, including the potential for ferry cancellations.
"The strongest winds are expected across northern Scotland on Saturday afternoon and evening, with the potential for gusts of 80 to 85 mph in coastal districts. The strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday with gusts of 50-60 mph across much of northern, central and western UK, locally higher for coasts and across high ground.”
Here's what to expect over the next few days, according to the Met Office.
Friday:
Outbreaks of rain, heavy for a time, clears east by early afternoon. Then sunny spells with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
A very windy weekend with showers or longer spells of rain, occasionally wintry Saturday night. Lighter winds on Monday, dry at first, rain later.
Turning more settled from Christmas Day
The winds will ease for the start of next week but there will be further rain or drizzle moving east across the UK on Monday night. Christmas Eve will be a mild, blustery day with further rain or drizzle at times in the west and the best chance of sunny spells in the east.
Christmas Day itself is likely to be settled, mostly cloudy and dry, although strong winds and spells of rain are likely in the far north. Temperatures are expected to be widely very mild, with the chance of settling snow looking slim.
UK long range weather forecast: Tuesday 24 December - Thursday 2 January
The start of this outlook sees the onset of a relatively prolonged period of settled weather, as an area of high pressure becomes established across much of the UK, probably centred over or just to the south of England. Early on, this will confine spells of rain and wind to the northwest of Scotland, though rain could become quite persistent here for a time.
Later on, it may become settled in the northwest too, but confidence in the position of the north/south boundary between settled and unsettled steadily lowers through the period. Becoming widely mild, perhaps exceptionally so in some places, but also often fairly cloudy, although clearer spells overnight may lead to localised frost and fog
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