Dramatic new maps have captured a swirling mass of wind and rain wheeling towards the country – hot on the heels of this week’s bitter chill.
UK temperatures have plummeted several degrees below zero over the last two days, with the worst yet to come as forecasters expect the mercury to slip into the -5C to -10C range.
The ice and snow on the horizon for many Britons will be some of the first severe weather many experience in 2024, with a host of potential hazards on the cards.
The week-long cold stint will begin to recover this weekend, but the warmer climate appears set to give way to a different kind of extreme almost immediately once the chill has abated.
In place of ice and snow will be strong winds of up to 80mph in some areas and rain – with areas in Scotland and northern England back in the firing line once again.
Maps from multiple weather forecasters show a vicious system of wind and rain heading towards the country in time for the weekend.
The worst of the cold will wear off on Saturday, January 20, and will immediately be followed by rain, according to WXCharts.
The forecasters – which use data from MetDesk – show the rainy system crossing the Atlantic and arriving in Scotland by late that evening, with up to 50mm (1.9 inches) falling over high ground.
Severe wind will follow closely behind, reaching UK shores by January 21, with gusts climbing to 38 to 46mph in just a few short hours.
Parts of Northern Ireland, the Midlands and northern Wales will see the worst of the winds, according to Meteoblue, which shows the system settling in the centre of the country.
The forecaster’s modelling shows that, at a maximum, the wind speeds could reach between 80mph and 90mph.
The wind and rain appear set to pound at the country for more than 12 hours straight, with no sign that the conditions will abate until late at night.
According to the Met Office long-range forecast for January 21, the winds could prove “damaging” over Sunday and Monday.
The forecast states: “There is the potential for some damaging winds on Sunday into Monday, especially in the north. Rain is likely to be heavy at times across many western hills.
“The milder and wetter than normal conditions seem most likely to persist through to late January, the wettest and windiest conditions likely to be focussed across the north and northwest. In the south and southeast, some drier and more settled spells of weather are likely, especially later in the month, when the chance of overnight frost and fog increases once again.”
