The UK braces for the strongest winds of the year as Storm Éowyn may be named, bringing heavy rain and gales by the weekend.
Cardiff: People are being warned to get ready for some serious winds this week. We’re talking about the strongest winds of the year, hitting the UK by the weekend. This is all thanks to a cold wave from America that’s pushing east and ramping up the jet stream, with winds reaching up to 250mph over the Atlantic.
Meteorologists are keeping a close eye on the forecasts and might name the storm Éowyn. In Wales, the Met Office says things will get pretty wild starting Thursday, with gales and heavy rain expected by Friday.
Looking at the UK as a whole, Thursday is set to bring the heaviest rain to north Wales and northwest England, with 20-30mm possible in the hills. And don’t be surprised if some snow pops up in the Scottish mountains.
As the night rolls in, winds will pick up in western parts of the UK, followed by heavy rain. By Friday, Northern Ireland and western Scotland could see gusts up to 80mph, especially along the coast and high ground. A yellow weather warning is already in place from Friday morning.
Chris Almond, the Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, mentioned that a deep low pressure system is on its way, bringing some potentially disruptive weather to the UK. Winds will start to strengthen Thursday night, with the worst gusts hitting on Friday.
He added that heavy rain will accompany the winds, making for some pretty unpleasant conditions as the week wraps up. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, and they’ll be fine-tuning the forecast as the week goes on, so it’s a good idea to stay updated.
As this low pressure system develops over the Atlantic and interacts with the jet stream, it’s expected to strengthen rapidly. This process, known as ‘explosive cyclogenesis,’ will see the central pressure drop significantly in just 24 hours. This is set to happen on Thursday, right before it reaches the UK.
