Series of storms to batter the United Kingdom into Christmas

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

December 20,2015; 9:15PM,EST

 

 

A series of storms accompanying the mild weather across the United Kingdom into Christmas will threaten to cause disruptions to travel for millions before and after the holiday.
The warmest weather will be felt across Wales and England, where temperatures will average 3-6 C (5-10 F) above normal.
The warmth during the holiday week will come after the Met Office declared the first half of December the mildest since 1960 for Wales, South West England and South East England.
For the U.K. as a whole, it was the fourth warmest start to December with an average temperature of 7.1 C (44.8 F).

As the mild weather continues into Christmas, a series of potent storm systems will pass through the U.K., each with rain, localized downpours and strong winds.
The first in a pair of storms during Christmas week will approach from the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, with rain spreading from west to east throughout the day. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h) will be felt across much of Britain. While rain will be heaviest in the North, showers will move across southern areas.
There will be a brief lull in the steadier rain and strong wind on Monday evening and early at night. A second storm will pass just north of Scotland on Tuesday, bringing another round of rain and frequent wind gusts of in excess of 40 mph (64 km/h).
Similar to the first, the heaviest rain with this second storm will target northern and western areas while showers will move across the southeast of England.
Coastal and exposed locations in Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland will record winds over 50 mph (80 km/h).
Behind this storm, it will remain windy across the entire U.K. on Wednesday. Showers will continue to wet western areas while a largely dry day is expected from eastern Scotland to the southeast of England.
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The next storm will quickly approach by Christmas Eve, with another round of downpours and the potential for locally damaging winds.
Those traveling to their Christmas destinations should be on alert for slippery roads and hydroplaning.
"Christmas Eve looks to be the day with the most air travel disruptions for flights in the United Kingdom," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
The steadiest rain will gradually shift from northwest to southeast across the U.K. with this storm. Flash flooding will be a concern in parts of Wales and northwestern England, following the rainfall earlier in the week.
Widespread winds over 40 mph (64 km/h) are expected with localized winds over 50 mph (80 km/h).
Christmas Day will remain wet in the southern Isles as a warm front moving to the north brings spells of rain across Wales and southern England. It will, however, not be quite as windy as previous days. The only chance for snow on Christmas will be across the Highlands of Scotland.
An end to the stormy weather pattern will not come with Christmas.
Next weekend will feature yet another storm that could produce downpours and strong winds. Anyone traveling home after the holiday could be impacted.
Content contributed by AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski and Meteorologist Adam Douty.