Britain faces EIGHT WEEKS of wind and rain as country gripped by ‘cyclonic Atlantic’ after Storm Darragh

Long-range forecasting models reveal a relentless pattern of wind and rain into February 2025.

Stormy conditions and ‘impacts from high winds’ are ‘more likely than normal’, according to Government forecasters.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “The chances of the winter being wet are greater than normal and given the time of year, spells of wet weather can be expected at any time.

“The wettest conditions are likely over northern and western parts of the UK, especially during January and February.

“The likelihood of the period being windy as a whole is also greater than normal, and stormy periods and impacts from rainfall and high winds are possible throughout, but especially during January and February.”

The UK’s weather is being dominated by the westerly Atlantic, currently in a pattern of spawning ‘cyclonic’ low-pressure storms.

As hopes of a White Christmas fade, experts warn brollies and raincoats will be of more use during the Festive season.

Britons clearing up after the weekend attack from Storm Darragh, the fourth of the season, are warned to brace for further ‘powerful’ winds.

Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and social commentator, said: “There is a chance through the next couple of weeks of another big storm coming, we are in a more mobile Atlantic pattern, and after a calmer spell this week, this could return.

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“There is a chance that we will see some quite powerful winds during the middle of December, with the north of the country more at risk.

“However, depending on where these low-pressure systems track, there is the risk of very unsettled weather to the south.”

Cold, dry weather in winter is usually driven by high pressure building over the country ‘blocking’ low pressure to the west.

Any so-called ‘blocking high’ is so far absent, leaving the doors open to low pressure from the west.

Britain is also at the mercy of the jet stream which instead of being tucked to the north, is raging over the UK steering and strengthening storms.

This pattern shows no let-up through the rest of the year and into the start of 2025, with little chance of a Festive whiteout.

A Met Office spokesman said: “There is only a small chance of the period being cold, however, this does not preclude the possibility of some cold spells and related impacts.

“The wettest conditions are likely over northern and western parts of the UK, especially during January and February.”

Dr Todd Crawford, of Atmospheric G2, added: “Higher pressures will be in control across southern Europe, with low pressure and much windier conditions across northern Europe.

“Across northern and eastern Europe, a warmer, wetter and windier period is expected, especially in the back half of winter.”

Bookies, however, are still hedging their bets over a White Christmas, juggling the odds for Festive snow.

Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati said: “It’s looking increasingly likely we’ll be waking up to the white stuff on Christmas Day, with a record-breaking cold December also on the cards.”