Showery spells to dampen UK this weekend as stormier weather pattern resumes

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

January 27,2017, 9:19:38AM,EST

 

 

Showery spells will put a damper on the United Kingdom this weekend before the risk of more impactful storms returns in early February.
Anyone planning to ring in the Chinese New Year are among those across the U.K. that should keep brollies handy this weekend.
The entire weekend will not be a washout, but showery spells from a pair of depressions threaten to put a damper on festivities. This includes the Magical Lantern Festival at London’s Chiswick House Gardens.
While there can still be the odd shower, Saturday evening will be better than Sunday evening to head to Chiswick House Gardens.

An isolated shower could also move across London as the Chinese New Year Parade winds from Trafalgar Square to Chinatown starting at 10:00 on Sunday.
“The greater opportunity for some rain in London, however, will be on Sunday afternoon and evening,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
A wet Sunday is also shaping for Belfast, Cardiff and Manchester.
However, brollies can be left at home in northern and eastern Scotland and the northeastern coast of England. After Saturday’s showers, the wet weather on Sunday will stop short of reaching these areas.
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The depressions will also allow milder air from the Atlantic to arrive, causing temperatures to rebound above normal across most of England and Wales this weekend.
Temperatures will flirt with 10 C (50 F) in London on Sunday, a stark contrast from Thursday when temperatures struggled to climb above freezing. A high around 6 C (43 F) is more common to end January.
Further warming will send temperatures to or past 10 C (50 F) throughout the U.K. early next week as another depression tracks to the northwest of the British Isles. The depression will deliver more showery spells for the final days of January.
A fresh to strong breeze may blow, especially over northern and western areas. However, widespread damaging wind gusts are not anticipated.

The potential for damaging winds, as well as flooding and travel disruptions, may increase in early February when stronger storms could target the U.K.
“Whether or not any of these storms strengthen enough to become named, we are definitely seeing a change in the weather pattern to bring more persistent bouts of rain and wind to the U.K. for early February,” Roys said.
The stormier weather would mean fewer prolonged periods of fog and frosty nights and less cold air settling over the U.K., according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister.