Manchester will continue to experience unsettled conditions over the coming daysA huge thunderstorm has hit Manchester this afternoon(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

Greater Manchester is set to be hit by 17 hours of non-stop rain as stormy conditions continue across the region, the Met Office has said.

There have been some heavy rain showers across northern England, Northern Ireland and northwest Scotland ahead of what is expected to be a wet and windy weekend.

Thunder and lightning have also been seen over Greater Manchester, with a number of flood warnings in place across the country.

Showers will continue overnight today, September 11, and may be heavy at times, but winds are set to gradually ease throughout the evening.

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On Friday, it’s likely there will be more heavy showers with a risk of thunder, but there will also be more drier periods than on Thursday. The maximum temperature tomorrow will be 18 °C.

There are also currently a number of flood warnings in place across the North West as heavy rain continues. Warnings are in place around Warrington, West Kirby, Fleetwood and Morecambe Bay.

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The Met Office has also issued an update on the possibility of the UK being hit by a named storm as yellow weather warning are put in place for areas across the UK this weekend.

Recent reports have suggested strong winds and heavy rainfall are on the way for parts of the UK this weekend, with this having the possibility to bring the UK’s first named storm of the year – Storm Amy.

Into the weekend the Met Office have forecast “changeable” weather which will become “more widely wet” on Sunday, with a possibility of gales across coastal areas.

Forecasting “strong” and “gusty” winds, the Met Office has also issued a yellow warning of wind for southern and western parts of the country. The warning will come into force at 8pm on Sunday, September 14, and lasts for 22 hours until 6pm on Monday, September 15.

The Met Office warns heavy winds could be brought by an area of low pressure which will sweep across the Atlantic towards the UK from Saturday into Sunday.