Stormy pattern arrives in the UK, increases windstorm potential

After a week of calm weather under an area of high pressure, a stormy pattern will bring rounds of rain and wind to the United Kingdom this week.

The change in the weather pattern was kicked off on Sunday as a cold front pushed through the region, bringing a period of blustery rain to end the weekend.

Following this front, several more storms will affect the country by this weekend.

The first of these storms will brought blustery showers to much of the country into Tuesday.

Chilly conditions in the Highlands brought snowfall to the higher elevations.

A second band of blustery showers is expected to sweep through Northern Ireland and Northern England into Tuesday night. Colder air will arrive with this wave, dropping snow levels across the region to as low as 200 meters (650 feet).

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"Wintry showers are expected in the higher terrain as far south as Wales and England," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys, "while accumulating snowfall is mostly likely in the Highlands."

Snowfall totals can reach 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) in the higher elevations of western Scotland and create slippery conditions into Tuesday night.

Another storm set to arrive on Wednesday will bring another round of gusty winds and rain to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England while dry and breezy weather greets the remainder of the U.K.

A more potent storm set to arrive on Thursday has the potential to be a named windstorm with wind gusts over 60 mph. The next name for a windstorm this season will be Ciara.

Once again Scotland will be in line for the worst of the storm with downpours and powerful winds.

Spells of rain and wind will extend southward across Northern Ireland and Northern England as the storm tracks just north and west of Scotland Thursday into Thursday night.

Travel delays and local flooding will again be a concern, especially in areas that receive multiple days of heavy rainfall.

There will be little rest for the weary as another storm is forecast to bring additional rain and strong winds to the United Kingdom on Friday.

The unsettled weather will likely continue into the weekend as another storm racing in from the Atlantic threatens more rain and wind.

The risk of local flooding and travel disruptions will increase in areas that receive multiple rounds of heavier rain throughout the week.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists say a break in the stormy weather will be possible during the second half of next week.