PEOPLE are being advised to batten down the hatches over the next couple of days in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area as wind and rain hits the district.

The summer has gone on hold as an autumnal style low pressure area has hit the UK and is likely to make the weather stormy today and then thundery on Saturday.

There is little respite for Sunday with more rain forecast.

Today's forecast is periods of rain, some heavy, and a thunderstorm; watch for flooding. And it added: "Some places could see as much as 30 mm in just a few hours.

"Some parts of northern and eastern Scotland may see 40-60mm of rain during this period. The rain will also be accompanied by strong winds, with gusts of 40-50mph possible across parts of Scotland during Friday.

"Once the rain has cleared scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop. Many places will miss these, but where they do occur 10-20 mm is possible in one hour, with perhaps 30 mm in a few hours. There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings."

For Saturday it added: "Heavy, and occasionally thundery showers, are expected to develop through Saturday, lasting into the first part of Sunday. "Whilst many areas will miss the worst of these thundery showers, a few spots could see 15-25 mm within an hour and 30-40 mm within 3 hours. "These heavy showers will tend to ease late Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday. There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater or lightning strikes. Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures."

There is little respite for Sunday with the forecast reading: "Periods of rain!"