UK storms – data and impact on drivers

Driving in the UK comes with several challenges – and adapting to changing weather conditions is one of them.

In this know how guide, we look at storms in the UK, when the next one will land, and what drivers should do.

How many days does it rain in the UK?

According to Statista, the UK typically has between 15 and 22 days of rain eery month. This averages out to around 156 days a year.

Scotland receives more rain than England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

England is the driest of the four nations.

The Atlantic Ocean drives precipitation into northern and western areas, explaining why Scotland is wetter than England.

How many storms are there every year in the UK?

The Statista data shows that there is an average of 10-20 storms every year in the UK – with two to five receiving names from the Met Office.

Since naming began in 2015, the number of named storms has had a low of two in 2022/23 season – and a high of 12 in the 2023/24 season.

Scotland, Wales, and western England are normally the worst affected areas.

Storm names for 2025/2026 season

These are the names of the storms that have hit the UK so far in 2025 and are set to impact the UK before the end of 2026.

1. Storm Eowyn – Hit the UK on the 24th January 2025
2. Storm Floris – Last two days, from the 4th to the 5th August 2025
3. Storm Amy – Impacted the UK from the 3rd to 4th October 2025
4. Storm Benjamin – Moved up from central Europe and affected parts of the UK on the 23rd October
5. Storm Claudia – Starting from today and lasting until Sunday 16th November

These are many names that are prepared for the next storms to arrive in the UK over the next few months.

The Met Office will release these names when there is forecast to be a storm.

New names for storms are released every September and run to the following August.

Why do storms get a name?

In the UK, storms are named when they pose a risk of disruption or damage likely to trigger amber or red warnings.

This decision comes from the National Severe Weather Warnings service, which weighs both the potential impact and its likelihood.

While strong winds and heavy rain are the usual triggers, other severe weather types may also lead to a storm being named.

When a storm meets the criteria for naming, meaning it poses a risk of significant disruption or danger, the responsibility for assigning its name falls to one of three national meteorological services: the UK’s Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, or the Dutch KNMI.

Together, they form the western Europe storm naming group.

The chosen name is taken from the annually approved list, which is arranged alphabetically and alternates between male and female names.

This system ensures consistency, helps the public easily identify severe weather events, and raises awareness of potential impacts across the region.

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What is classed as a storm?

A storm is a violent atmospheric disturbance marked by strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and/or snowfall.

It occurs when areas of low pressure intensify, creating unstable weather conditions over both small and larger areas.

Storms often leading to flooding, property damage, and risks to human safety when driving.

Number of days of rain per month in the UK

Data from On Average highlights the average rainfall by month across the UK, based on data from the last 30 years.

What is a ‘weather bomb’?

A weather bomb is a low-pressure system that drops 24 millibars in 24 hours, a process called explosive cyclogenesis.

Driven by the jet stream, falling pressure pulls in surrounding air, tightening rotation like a spinning skater.

The resulting winds can peak quickly, strong enough to topple trees, damage buildings, and cause havoc on the roads.

What is a ‘storm surge’?

A storm surge is a rise in sea level driven by a storm, often causing severe coastal flooding.

Fierce winds push seawater toward the shore, piling it up, while low pressure at the storm’s centre adds a smaller lift – about 1 cm for every millibar drop – known as the inverse barometer effect.

Powerful winds also generate large waves that can batter sea defences or spill over, heightening flood risks. In tropical storms like hurricanes, heavy rainfall further compounds the danger.

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When is the next storm?

Storm Claudia will bring heavy rain to England and Wales from Friday (14^th November 2025) into early Saturday, prompting Met Office Amber warnings in southern and central areas.

Named by Spain’s meteorological service after impacts in the Canary Islands, the storm also carries wider yellow warnings for rain and wind, with wet conditions spreading north overnight.

By the weekend, northern UK will turn colder with frosts, brighter skies, and only scattered showers.

Southern areas start cloudy, wet, and mild, but rain will ease and clear, with colder, drier conditions spreading nationwide by early next week. A brisk northerly wind will then bring a sharper chill and the season’s first snow in parts of the north and east.

How can drivers prepare?

Ahead of the storm, RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “We urge drivers to take the amber weather warnings associated with Storm Claudia extremely seriously, as they indicate roads are likely to become flooded and therefore represent a risk to life.

“Drivers may wish to consider delaying their journeys until the worst of the impacts are over, especially in areas that are hardest hit this weekend.

"As well as representing a serious risk to drivers, it’s also no secret that floodwater can cause severe damage to vehicles, flooding the engine and risking an insurance write-off in the worst-case scenarios.

“We expect rural roads across central England and Wales to be especially difficult to negotiate as flooding there is more likely, and there’s a greater chance of disruption from fallen leaves and branches. Drivers should check before they risk travelling in affected areas. 

“The storm precedes a cold snap going into next week, when there’s potential for freezing temperatures which will make roads hit by heavy rain very slippery with a chance of ice. We expect breakdown volumes to be around 10% higher than what’s normal for this time of year, which equates to around 1,000 more people needing our help each day.

Normal indicators of autumn, like fallen leaves on the road, can also become very hazardous in icy conditions as they create an extra layer between tyres and the road surface, increasing the likelihood of skidding.

“In both heavy rain and frost, it’s vital motorists slow right down and leave extra room for stopping distances.

"Cars with older, less reliable batteries fail more often in the cold weather, so it’s important drivers in any doubt use this week to get theirs checked by an RAC mobile mechanic or at a reputable garage.”