Storm Pedro Brings Rain and Snow to the UK, with Potential Disruptions and Milder Temperatures Ahead
A weather system named Storm Pedro is forecast to bring rain and snow to Britain today and tomorrow, according to Meteo France, the French equivalent of the Met Office. Despite ongoing cold and wet conditions, forecasters predict 'much milder' temperatures by the end of the week.
Sky News Weather meteorologist Dr. Chris England explains that the jet stream has been positioned south of the UK, allowing high pressure over Scandinavia to bring cold air from northern Europe. However, this will shift north over the next few days, giving way to a milder Atlantic flow.
The rain and snow will mostly clear tomorrow, with milder air following. Dr. England notes that the impact of Pedro on this side of the Channel is expected to be relatively light, with snow primarily affecting hills. Nevertheless, the Met Office warns of a small chance of disruption caused by flooding, snow, and strong winds, which could affect flights, train services, and road travel.
Yellow warnings for rain are currently in place for southern England, with hill snow forecast for Wales and the West Midlands. Many in the south of England experienced a wet start on Wednesday, with a yellow warning for heavy rain in effect until 8 am on Thursday. The Met Office expects 10-20mm of rain to fall widely, with up to 30mm near the south coast and as much as 50mm on Dartmoor, Devon.
A separate yellow warning for snow in the West Midlands and Wales will be in effect from 4 pm on Wednesday to 6 am on Thursday. In Northern Ireland, outbreaks of rain, hill snow, and strong gusts of up to 50-55 mph winds are expected, with a yellow warning in force until 8 pm on Wednesday.
A cold health alert was issued for much of England on Tuesday, covering the South West, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber, and running until 6 pm on Friday. The UK Health Security Agency, which typically only issues warnings for England, warned that the cold weather could pose a greater risk to vulnerable people's lives and lead to increased healthcare service usage.
Senior Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell predicts that by Thursday, the winds will have cleared, and the weather will be much milder by the weekend, with temperatures reaching the low-to-mid teens if there's some sunshine. However, further spells of wind and rain are expected, but most will see an uplift in temperatures as the weekend approaches.
Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal are expected to be affected by Storm Pedro in the next few days, with the Spanish weather agency, AEMET, predicting snowstorms and winds of around 75 mph in some parts of the country.
