There could be a chance to spot up to 10 to 15 meteors per hour. They will be visible with the naked eye; no binoculars or telescope are required.
If the weekend is missed, viewing conditions look particularly good around the mid-November peak. Around midnight the Moon will be below the horizon, so its light will be less likely to spoil the view.
This weekend’s forecast will not necessarily be great news for those hoping to catch the start of the shower. By Sunday night it is likely that more parts of the UK will be clear.
Overnight temperatures will drop into single figures, with a chance of a touch of frost in a few locations. Anyone watching for any length of time will want to wrap up warmly.
Meteors could appear anywhere, but the radiant — the point from which they seem to come — will be around the head of the constellation Leo, the best part of the sky to watch.
Experts advise finding a safe, dark location away from street lights and other light pollution. A wide open space gives the fullest view of the night sky.
The celestial spectacle runs from now until the end of November.
Those particles enter Earth’s atmosphere at up to 44 miles (71 km) per second, making the Leonids the fastest meteors in the sky.
Giving the eyes 20 or 30 minutes to adapt to the dark will give the best chance of spotting them.