Kendal is facing a spell of unsettled weather, with heavy showers expected today before a much wetter and windier Friday. The latest forecast suggests conditions should improve considerably on Saturday, bringing a drier and brighter break, although rain is expected to return overnight on Sunday.
The forecast is part of a wider unsettled pattern across Cumbria, where several bands of rain are expected to move across the county. Showers are forecast today, followed by heavy downpours and gusty winds on Friday, particularly across South Cumbria and West Cumbria. Weather conditions are then expected to become notably drier and brighter on Saturday before another spell of overnight rain on Sunday.
Heavy showers expected in Kendal
Kendal is forecast to have heavy showers today, with an 80 per cent chance of rain and a high of 15.3°C. Across the county, widespread rain is expected, with the heaviest conditions likely over higher ground. The wider forecast describes today as showery and breezy, with peak county temperatures of 15.7°C and rain chances reaching 84 per cent.
The unsettled conditions are expected to affect much of Cumbria, although the intensity of the rain will vary between locations. Windermere, close to Kendal, is forecast to be cool and damp today, with a 79 per cent chance of rain and a high of 14.2°C. Sedbergh is expected to have an 83 per cent chance of heavy rain and a high of 14.5°C, while Ambleside is forecast to see a 77 per cent chance of heavy showers and reach 14.9°C.
Friday forecast to bring the heaviest rain
Friday is expected to be the most difficult day of the forecast period for Kendal. The town is forecast to have a 95 per cent chance of heavy downpours, with temperatures reaching 15.7°C. The wider county outlook describes heavy rain and strong winds sweeping across Cumbria, with western and southern areas facing a widespread washout.
Rain probabilities are particularly high in parts of South Cumbria and West Cumbria. Ambleside is forecast to have a 97 per cent chance of rain on Friday, while Barrow and Egremont are both expected to face rain probabilities of 94 and 96 per cent respectively. Grange-over-Sands is also forecast to have a 97 per cent chance of heavy rain, with a high of 16.1°C.
Nearby Windermere is expected to see persistent heavy rain on Friday, with a 97 per cent probability of downpours and a high of 15.1°C. Ulverston is forecast to have a 95 per cent chance of heavy downpours and reach 16.1°C, while Millom is expected to have a 95 per cent chance of heavy rain and a high of 16.4°C.
The county will not receive the same level of rain everywhere. Eastern areas including Carlisle and Appleby are forecast to have Friday rain chances of about 58 to 59 per cent. Carlisle is expected to reach 16.1°C, while Appleby is forecast to see scattered rain and a high of 15.3°C.
Strong winds will add to the unsettled conditions. Gusts along the Solway coast at Silloth are expected to exceed 16 metres per second today and Friday. Silloth is forecast to have a 93 per cent chance of rain on Friday and a high of 16.5°C, while Whitehaven is expected to see strong winds, a 95 per cent chance of heavy rain and a high of 16.6°C.
Drier and brighter conditions arrive on Saturday
The outlook improves sharply on Saturday. Kendal is forecast to have drier conditions and sunny spells, with temperatures reaching 16.5°C. Across Cumbria, gusty winds are expected to ease and rain chances are forecast to fall to between 8 and 51 per cent.
Several nearby locations are also expected to benefit from the change. Windermere is forecast to become drier and brighter, reaching 15.7°C, while Ambleside is expected to have a drier Saturday with a high of 16.2°C. Grange-over-Sands is forecast to be brighter and mostly dry at 16.7°C, and Ulverston is expected to reach 16.7°C in mostly dry conditions.
The improvement is also expected further across the county. Carlisle is forecast to be largely dry and pleasant at 16.6°C, while Appleby is expected to be mostly dry with a high of 16°C. Silloth is forecast to dry out, reaching 16.3°C, and Whitehaven is expected to become more settled and largely dry at 16.4°C.
Rain returns overnight on Sunday
Sunday is expected to remain largely dry in Kendal during daylight hours, with a high of 15.6°C. However, rain is forecast to return overnight as cloud thickens. The wider county outlook gives a 45 to 62 per cent chance of rain overnight.
Similar conditions are forecast around South Cumbria. Windermere is expected to reach 15°C during the day before wet weather arrives at night. Ambleside is forecast to remain calm at 15.4°C, while Grange-over-Sands is expected to stay pleasant at 15.8°C before overnight rain.
Milder but unsettled weather on Monday
Monday is expected to be milder but unsettled in Kendal, with scattered showers and a high of 17.8°C. Across Cumbria, daytime temperatures could reach 18.8°C, although rain chances are forecast to remain around 45 to 62 per cent.
Appleby is forecast to reach 18.1°C on Monday, while Carlisle could climb to 18.8°C. In South Cumbria, Grange-over-Sands is expected to reach 17.9°C, Ulverston 17.9°C and Millom 17.7°C. The forecast for Windermere gives a high of 17.2°C, with showers expected.
The supplied report says the forecast was generated by artificial intelligence and powered by Met Office data. The source does not provide a named forecaster, and the supplied material does not explicitly identify the calendar date represented by “today”, “Friday”, “Saturday”, “Sunday” or “Monday”. Weather conditions may change, so people planning journeys or outdoor activities in Kendal should check the latest forecast before setting out.