New bout of soaking rain, strong winds to target UK on Friday

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

February 2,2017, 1:34:01PM,EST

 

 

A new storm blasting into the United Kingdom to close out this week will unleash soaking rain and strong winds, with more unsettled weather to follow this weekend.
In the wake of the storm that produced gusts in excess of 50 mph (80 km/h) on Thursday, a new storm will quickly approach on Friday.
"Rain will spread from south to north across the U.K. on Friday into Friday night," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said, adding that the heaviest rain will spread across western areas.
Rainfall is not expected to be heavy enough to produce widespread flooding problems. However, localized amounts up to 25 mm (1 inch) could result in slower travel.
"Soaking rain will focus on Belfast on Friday night," Pydynowski said. "Drivers will face reduced visibility and a heightened risk of hydroplaning due to standing water."

As rain spreads northward across the southern U.K., winds will become stronger during the afternoon and evening hours of Friday with the greatest impacts across southern Wales and southern England.
"There will be a brief period of winds gusting between 40 and as high as 50 mph (65 to 80 km/h) across the south of England and Wales," AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards said. "This includes London and Cardiff."
Such winds can cause sporadic tree damage, power cuts and minor travel delays.
Stronger winds will put the southern coast of England at greater risk for power cuts and disruptions to air and rail travel. Coastal flooding may also occur at high tide.
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"The coastline will face more prolonged wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-95 km/h) with isolated higher gusts," Richards said.
Gusts will generally be on the order of 30-40 mph (48-65 km/h) as the storm continues to track northward over Scotland on Saturday. Rainy spells, which will be wintry over the hills, will accompany the storm to start the weekend.
As quick as this storm departs, two more will be racing eastward from the Atlantic into France this weekend.

"The storms this weekend are expected to track into France far enough to the south that the southern U.K. should escape strong and damaging winds," Pydynowski said. "Rain should still spread across southern England, meaning those in London will want to grab a brolly before heading out for weekend plans."
If either storm tracks farther north, damaging winds could impact the region and result in a named wind storm.
So far this season there have been three named wind storms, although none were named during the month of January. The next name that will be given is Doris.
Temperatures will otherwise trend back to more seasonable levels for this weekend across the U.K. with mostly dry conditions anticipated for the Midlands.
Early next week, the storm track should press back to the north and a cold front will sweep through the U.K. with a spell of rain.
"This front will bring the risk of locally damaging winds with gusts exceeding 50 mph (80 km/h) to the western and northern U.K.," Pydynowski said.