Settled weather gives way to wind and rain

After a spell of settled weather, wet and windy conditions will take hold through the week.

High pressure has been dominant across the UK, bringing dry, settled weather with some sunshine for most but also some overnight frosts. However low pressure from the Atlantic will take over this week, bringing wet and at times very windy conditions.

The first area of low pressure moves to the northwest of Scotland on Tuesday evening, bringing strong gusts of up to 75mph. A Yellow National Severe Weather Warning for wind is in force for north west Scotland. Rain will also move in from the north west, affecting Scotland and Northern Ireland at first before sinking further south into England and Wales where it will continue through Wednesday.

Closely behind the previous low pressure, another Atlantic system follows bringing a period of strong winds across England and Wales. A Yellow warning for wind is in force from Wednesday evening through to Thursday afternoon, gusts of 50-55mph are possible inland with up to 60-70mph on coasts and hills especially in the west. The strong winds will also bring frequent and in places heavy, blustery showers.

Chief Meteorologist Andy Page, said: “After the recent settled spell the weather will turn more unsettled this week with strong winds and rain. Yellow weather warnings for wind are in force. The second of two areas of low pressure is likely to bring the most widespread strong winds, with gusts of 55mph widely across England and Wales later on Wednesday and Thursday, with gusts up to 70mph in exposed western locations.”

As the areas of low pressure move away from the UK through Thursday afternoon the winds will ease and the rain will turn more showery with spells of sunshine. Blustery showers will continue through the weekend with the driest conditions in the east. There are early signs that the weather will settle down again by the middle of next week with the chance of high pressure once again becoming dominant.

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