'Remarkable' lack of windstorms to continue for the United Kingdom this winter

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

January 20,2016; 9:51AM,EST

 

 

Though spells of showers will continue across much of the United Kingdom this winter, the threat for windstorms will remain absent as the season progresses.
The last named windstorm was Frank, which blasted the U.K. just before New Year's Eve. Storm Frank was the sixth named storm to hit the U.K. during the 2015-2016 winter season.

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In the 20 days since, there have been no windstorms, a pattern which is likely to continue.
"Into the last few days of January, we will continue to see a remarkable lack of windstorms," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
"While there will be some waves of wet weather into the end of the month, strong winds, for the most part, will not be a concern."
The cause for the more tranquil weather is a strong high in the Arctic Circle and northern Atlantic Ocean that has been in place for most of January. In a normal winter, this area often has a weaker high or a low pressure, which facilitates stronger storms being ushered into the U.K.
The high over the poles in January has kept the strong storms away, instead bringing weak waves of wet weather across the British Isles before developing into a storm over continental Europe.
Through the end of winter, little change is expected.

"The ridge of high pressure should remain over the Atlantic through February and into March," Roys said.
"While we cannot completely rule out a windstorm over the next few months, the likelihood for one to develop will remain minimal."
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Even without the stronger winds, persistent periods of rain will still make an impact into the end of January.
Much of this week is forecast to be tranquil with a break from the rounds of rain. Odd showers will continue along coastal locations of Northern Ireland, Wales and northwestern England for Wednesday and Thursday.
Even as a front returns widespread wet weather for Thursday night and Friday, the primary threat will be a spell or two of heavier rain that could cause some minor travel delays.
Gusty winds will not be a concern with this system.
Already this month, wet weather has brought some cities rainfall amounts well above normal. As of 18 January, London's rainfall total had climbed 59 mm (2.33 inches). The average for the first month of the year is 53 mm (2.10 inches).
Manchester, Leeds and Bristol are among the cities that have had above-normal rainfall already this month and will welcome the needed break from the rain this week.