Storm Caroline to batter UK with rain, wind before arctic chill arrives late week

Storm Caroline will bring wind-driven rain, damaging winds and high-elevation snow to the United Kingdom into Thursday.

Conditions began to deteriorate at midweek as rain and gusty winds swept across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England.

As Caroline strengthens over the North Sea on Thursday, damaging winds will be unleashed across Scotland and Northern England.

"Widespread wind gusts of 80-100 km/h (50-62 mph) are expected with locations in northern and western Scotland at risk for peak wind gusts of 130-145 km/h (81-90 mph)," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

These powerful winds will result in power outages across the region.

“Impacts across Scotland and Northern England will also include snow in the highest elevations and widespread disruption to travel including ferry, air and rail travel,” said Roys.

Flooding rainfall is not expected to be a widespread concern with this storm; however, localized flooding is possible from northwestern England into western Scotland where rainfall totals of 15-40 mm (0.59-1.57 inches) are expected into Thursday.

Howling, cold northerly winds will greet all of the U.K. on Friday as Caroline departs and arctic air races southward across the country.

Temperatures will struggle to climb at all during the day on Friday with high temperatures ranging between 2 and 4 C (36 and 40 F) in most areas.

The gusty winds will make it feel below 0 C (32 F) across the entire country with parts of northern England and Scotland feeling like 10 below zero C (14 F).

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In the higher terrain of Scotland and Northern England, high temperatures will be near 0 C (32 F) with frequent snow showers.

Snow will fall all the way to low levels in northern parts of the U.K. on Friday, and a few snowflakes cannot be ruled out all the way to London.

Wintry showers will be confined to Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwestern England, the east coast of England and northern Wales on Saturday as the arctic chill remains entrenched across the country.

"Some low elevation locations can expect 2-5 cm (1-2 inches) of snow from Friday into Saturday," said Roys.

Another storm system will approach on Sunday and could bring additional wintry precipitation to parts of the country.

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