Voters will have to brave wet weather across much of Britain as they arrive at polling stations for today's local elections.
Rain is often blamed for contributing to low election turnouts and forecasters have predicted downpours for Wales and central and southern England.
But MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said voters in northern England and Scotland should escape the wet weather, with dry and mild conditions expected.
Meteorologist Paul Mott said: "It will be a cold and wet morning for central and southern areas of England, and much of Wales. There'll be heavy rain across the south midlands throughout the morning, with patchy rain for parts of southern England, so it will be fairly wet for anyone venturing outside.
"The rain will ease later in the day but it will still be a cold and damp afternoon."
"In northern England and Scotland, though, it will be dry and very mild at about 18 or 19C, with the highest temperatures in Glasgow."
Nearly 15,000 candidates are battling for votes ahead of a key mid-term voting test for the coalition Government and its Labour opponents.
