The Met Office has predicted three days of heavy rain and thunderstorms will lash the UK at the beginning of October.
Outbreaks of rain are expected in most parts of the country today, forecasters have said.
Temperatures will be slightly warmer than yesterday, despite windy conditions.
Highs of around 16C or 17C are expected, Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said.
Ms Nasir explained: "The key feature of the weather will be the wind which will be gale-force along the western side of the country through Thursday."
The heaviest rain will be in the north and west, the Met Office said.
Driving conditions might be tricky due to spray and standing water on some roads combined with blustery winds.
In the southeast, strong coastal gales are likely, forecasters warned.
Tomorrow, the day will start on a cloudy note, with a mixture of sunshine and showers following.
Due to coastal gales, some exposed areas will feel cool, the Met Office explained.
More showers are expected at the weekend, with heavy and more prolonged rain moving north and east during Saturday.
The weather will continue to be windy, with gales possible in the south and east late on Saturday and in the northeast on Sunday.
According to the Met Office long-range forecast, rain and thunder could arrive and stay over the next few weeks as the start of October is likely to be a miserable one.
The forecast from Saturday, October 2 to Monday, October 11 says that a low pressure system from the north will dominate, bringing with it "heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms for all".
The forecast adds: "Thereafter, further low pressure systems will affect the UK, particularly northwestern areas. This will bring organised bands of rain, heavy at times, interspersed with cooler and showery periods but some sunny spells too.
"Drier and more settled conditions are likely across southern and eastern parts of the country, but there is still a chance that bands of rain and strong winds from the north and west could extend into these areas."
Temperatures are also expected to be slightly lower than normal at the start of the period before they return to near average.
There is some hope for the middle of October as well, with the Met Office saying that high pressure may dominate in the south between October 12 and 26, bringing with it drier and more settled conditions.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Outbreaks of rain affecting many areas, though far southeast England probably staying dry until later. Some bright spells possible, mainly east of hills. A little warmer than Wednesday despite being windy.
Tonight:
Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain continuing, heavy at times in the west, although some clear spells are possible across northeast Scotland. Rather windy with coastal gales in the southeast.
Friday:
Cloud and rain, locally heavy, clearing east. Mixture of sunshine and showers following, locally heavy with hail and thunder in the northwest. Feeling cooler with coastal gales at times.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Sunny spells and showers, with heavy and more prolonged rain moving north and east during Saturday. Windy; gales possible in the south and east late Saturday and northeast Sunday.
