UK: Storms to impact Easter travel for more than 20 million

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

March 24,2016; 8:00PM,EDT

 

 

Following a prolonged period of tranquil weather across the United Kingdom, a change to stormy weather will slow travel and impact festivities this Easter holiday weekend.
The RAC is expecting more than 20 million motorists to travel for the holiday, spanning Thursday through Monday, in the U.K.
With millions of people hitting the roads, rails and airports, travel slowdowns are possible even where the weather cooperates.
In an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion Highways England lifted more than 450 miles of major roadwork for holiday travelers.

However, the weather will serve as an additional hindrance for travelers from Saturday through Monday as a series of depressions brings rounds of rain and occasional strong winds.
While travelers on Good Friday will be spared any adverse weather, a new depression will cause rainfall to spread into Northern Ireland and Scotland on Friday night. Downpours and strong winds will expand over the British Isles on Saturday, hindering travel.
"The heaviest rain will fall in southwestern Scotland, North West England and Wales," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said. "The nature of how slow the rain will move could lead to localized rain amounts in excess of 50 mm (2 inches) and flash flooding."
Rainfall totals, otherwise, in the U.K. will be generally be 25 mm (1 inch) or less. While the risk of flash flooding will be lower, any downpours could result in slower travel.
South East England will be dry throughout most of the day. Roys does not expect the rain to reach London until the later afternoon and evening hours.
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Strong winds will accompany the band of rain across the U.K., which could cause delays in rail and air travel. Extensive railway engineering work that is set to take place over the holiday will only increase rail delays.
"The gusty winds will mainly occur across Wales, England and southern Scotland with peak gusts of 50-60 mph (80-95 km/h)," Roys said.
"The strongest winds will be along the leading edge of the rain. London will not see the strongest winds until the second half of the afternoon, but western England and Scotland will be gusty in the morning."
"For Easter Sunday, thundery showers will be around to dampen any holiday festivities," Roys said.
The Cancer Research UK Boat Races, which include races between rowing crews from Oxford and Cambridge, begin at noon on Sunday with 250,000 people expected to attend.

Showers will make wellies and umbrellas a necessary for those attending the event or any other outdoor festivity.
While the rainfall on Sunday will tend to be light across the U.K., gusty winds, albeit not as strong as Saturday, will make holding onto umbrellas difficult. The showers will also be thundery and the threat for lightning may force residents inside.
The most potent depression of the bank holiday weekend will come Sunday night into Monday with additional rain and strong winds, impacting travel for millions returning from weekend events.
"Wales, the Midlands and southern England will be subject to wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-95 km/h)," Roys said. "The southern coastal areas will see gusts toward 75 mph (120 km/h) on Monday."
The wettest time for much of England and Wales on Monday will be in the morning, according to Roys. "Rain will taper off to showers in the afternoon for most of the U.K."
During this bank holiday weekend, residents are also reminded to set their clocks an hour ahead before heading to bed Saturday night as British Summer Time starts early Sunday morning.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.