When will Britain's stormy weather end?

Waves crash against the Aberystwyth coastline. Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

It will come as no surprise to any of us that December 2013 has been confirmed as the stormiest on record. Not only was it extremely wet, it was also one of the windiest calendar months for over a decade.

Little wonder, therefore, that the UK has seen such widespread and devastating flooding and disruption.

Only six days into the New Year and the bad (weather) news has continued unabated with weather warnings for strong wind and heavy rain across the western and southern areas in force today and in the south tomorrow.

At last though, there seems to be some very gradual signs of improvement and some much needed respite to allow the great clear up to begin.

There seems to be some signs of improvement. Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Stormy conditions and continued tidal swells towards the west of the UK will gradually ease in the next 24 hours as a deep area of low pressure moves away from the west.

This will leave us a mixture of sunny spells and blustery showers (heaviest in the north and west) across much of the UK from midweek - although close attention is being paid to an active weather front, which is looking, to move in across southern parts on Wednesday and Thursday.

Log onto the Environment Agency website or call the Floodline 0845 988 1188 for the latest where you are.

A woman walks her dog through heavy sea spray in Porthcawl, South Wales. Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

With the focus on the more extreme weather activity in the past few weeks, little thought has been given to temperature – but as conditions start to quieten down, the relatively mild temperatures in the south, closer to average in the north, will become more apparent with a frost returning overnight for many on Thursday as a transient ridge of high pressure (remember those?) gives us a quiet, clear and chilly night.

A weak weather front looks to cross the UK at the end of the week, leaving us in a largely showery regime for the weekend.

A group of people sheltering under umbrellas in the rain in Regent's Park, London. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The general theme from next week onwards does continue rather unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain – even gales to the north and west – but we are not anticipating a return to the storms of the past few weeks.

As a general rule, the wettest and windiest weather will be to the north and west; drier, brighter and increasingly chilly conditions to the south and east with an increasing risk of frost and ice.

In fact, early signs point to an increasing risk of a change to colder weather generally early next month.