Why is it so windy in the UK? Met Office issues weather warning after 'tornado', lightning strikes and floods

An alleged tornado hit a Staffordshire town on Monday, damaging the roofs of several houses as severe wind swept through the region
Tamara Davison16 April 2024

People in parts of the UK are bracing for a windy week after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning on Monday. 

An alleged tornado hit a Staffordshire town yesterday (April 15), damaging the roofs of several houses as severe wind swept through the region. 

Although the Met Office couldn’t verify it was a tornado, a representative for the UK’s national weather service Stephen Dixon said: “Tornadoes do happen in the UK and they’re generally short-lived in nature, but around 30 a year are reported on average.

“There have been some reports of some particularly impactful winds. The fronts that were moving southwards this morning had some potential for some short-lived tornadoes within them, but we would need to assess the impact.”

Additionally, forecasters reportedly counted 450 lightning strikes this week, and bridges and tunnels have been shut across various parts of the country. 

While the wind had slightly subsided by Tuesday, flood warnings remain in place for England. The Met Office forecasts “scattered blustery showers” and a “chilly” feeling. 

The cold front sweeping across the country comes days after parts of the UK recorded the year’s highest temperatures

Experts predict the warm spell is over for now and forecast further showers for the next few days that may start easing at the weekend. 

Mr Dixon added: “By the time we get to the weekend, there’s a signal for higher pressure to build in from the south-west which would settle things down in terms of rainfall totals.

“We’ve obviously seen a very wet few weeks and months indeed for the UK, but by the time we get to Saturday and into Sunday we’re looking at high pressure building in from the west, which would see a reduction in those rainfall totals and some much needed dry weather for some areas.”

Why is it so windy in the UK?

This week’s blustery conditions are fuelled by a low-pressure pocket sweeping from the North Sea. Pressure changes often cause gusts of wind and gales to blow stronger than usual.

The pressure change is why many parts of the country experienced strong wind and heavy rain on Monday. 

Weather experts have released a guide here to stay safe amid strong winds.

When will the weather get better? 

Most weather outlooks for April suggest unsettled conditions and plenty of wind and rain. However, as we head into May, things may start looking up. 

The long-range forecast for the UK suggests more stable weather conditions at the start of next month. However, as with most UK weather, unpredictability is always likely.

The Met Office said: “Around the turn of the month, high pressure will probably remain close to the UK, with a good deal of dry and calm weather continuing for many areas. 

“Into early May, these settled conditions will probably move northwards, with the driest weather perhaps across the north-west of the UK.”

You can view the Met Office’s weather forecast for your area here.

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