UK to finally get a break from rain with highs of 16°C this weekend

The UK is finally set to see milder weather after weeks of yellow warnings, rain and wintry conditions.

The Met Office said this weekend could see highs of up to 16C as three separate yellow warnings expire this morning.

Icy stretches are still expected across much of Wales as temperatures fall either close to or below freezing, with forecasters advising caution on slippery pavements and road surfaces.

But the unsettled weather is expected to slowly improve throughout the morning, with temperatures turning milder for the time of year by the weekend.

Chief Met Office forecaster Jason Kelly said: ‘There is potential for rain, sleet and snow to affect parts of Wales, central England and the southern Pennines from Wednesday evening into early Thursday.

‘Strong east to northeasterly winds could increase impacts, and ice is also a risk as temperatures drop overnight.

‘We are keeping a close eye on how this weather system evolves, so do be prepared for weather warnings to change and stay up to date with the weather forecast in your area.’

Why has it been raining so much?

The UK recorded 17% more rainfall than usual last month, according to the Met Office, and there is little sign of the deluge letting up.

It all begs the question – what is behind this wave of miserable weather?

The UK is effectively stuck in the middle of a meteorological traffic jam.

There’s currently a vast area of high pressure sitting across Scandinavia, acting as a weather roadblock.

Usually, weather systems move eastwards over the UK. But this January, low-pressure wet and cloudy conditions have come to a standstill above Britain.

This explains why we’ve seen as many as 40 days of consecutive rain in some areas, including North Wyke in Devon and Cardinham in Cornwall.

The constant showers have often fallen on already-sodden ground, contributing to devastating floods in Somerset and Devon.

England alone has seen 59 per cent of its expected rainfall for the whole of February in the first nine days.

Further south, Worcestershire and the Isle of Wight have had their usual helping of February showers in one week.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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