Scattered showers and a rare August windstorm to batter UK later this week

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Less than two weeks removed from the hottest day in the United Kingdom's history, a potent windstorm more typical of October is poised to strike later this week.

A spell of unsettled weather has settled over the U.K. in the wake the late July heat wave and this pattern is forecast to continue into this weekend.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain a concern across much of the country through Wednesday, prior to the arrival of a vigorous storm system later this week. An abnormally strong storm system will approach from the Atlantic on Thursday and bring the risk for a prolonged strong wind event along with bouts of heavy rainfall.

Much of the country will have a brief reprieve from showers and thunderstorms on Thursday before a band of locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds sweeps across the country Thursday night and Friday.

Additional periods of rainfall, some locally heavy, and gusty winds are forecast throughout much of the country Friday night and Saturday.

The heaviest rainfall will be focused over Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and Northern England. Downpours will also bring the risk for local flooding to the Midlands and Southwest England. These areas can expect total rainfall of 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) from Thursday night to Saturday with local amounts up to 75 mm (3 inches).

Local flooding will be a significant concern along with the risk for widespread travel delays during the heaviest rainfall. Rainy spells will dampen each day across the remainder of the U.K.; however, rainfall will generally total less than 12 mm (0.47 of an inch).

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Another facet of this storm will be a prolonged period of strong, locally damaging winds that will whip across much of the country. The first blast of strong winds will be felt across Northern Ireland on Thursday night with gusts of 30-40 mph (50-65 km/h). These strong winds will then blow across the entire country on Friday and Friday night.

The strongest winds of the event will occur on Saturday for many locations as gusts of 40-50 mph (65-80 km/h) are possible across England and Wales.

These winds will be capable of causing tree damage along with local power cuts and travel disruptions.

Showers and gusty winds will continue throughout the U.K. on Sunday as the storm departs and moves into Scandinavia. Another potent storm will bring the risk for rain and strong winds to parts of the country early next week.

This stormy weather pattern is forecast to continue for much of the remainder of August, limiting the chance for any additional heat waves this summer.