Stormy Start to 2024: Jet Stream Unleashes Wet and Windy Weekend
A fierce jet stream is charging across the Atlantic, dragging a string of low-pressure systems right over the UK. The result? Wet, windy weather set to batter large parts of the country for days. The Met Office has already issued multiple warnings for rain, snow, ice, and strong winds.
Met Office Warns of Unsettled New Year’s Weekend
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Helen Caughey warned, “It’ll be an unsettled New Year weekend for much of the UK. New Year’s Eve for most will be the wetter of the two days, with a number of fronts bringing rain and wind across much of the country. The unsettled weather will stay with us into the evening.”
Scotland faces a mixed bag — mostly dry with occasional showers on NYE before a heavy band of rain and hill snow sweeps in. New Year’s Day will bring more rain and snow at higher levels across Scotland. Meanwhile, the south will enjoy milder, drier conditions, but the north remains colder with ice risks early Sunday.
Caughey added, “Elsewhere, a drier day is expected, although with some showers, mainly across western areas, ahead of conditions becoming more widely settled into Monday.”
Next Week: Calm South, Wild North?
The weather split is expected to continue into next week. High pressure may grip the south, bringing calmer skies, while low pressure lingers in the north, dragging in showers, longer spells of rain, and strong winds.
However, forecasters are still pinning down the details — especially how far south and east the wet and windy conditions will reach. Confidence on the forecast is due to improve in the coming days.
- Expect wet and windy weather into the weekend
- Scotland to face snow and persistent rain on New Year’s Day
- Milder, drier weather in the south but icy spots in the north
- Next week brings a split: calm south vs stormy north
