Storm Éowyn will bring very strong winds as well as heavy rain and snow for some on Friday.
A band of heavy rain will move from west to east across the area on Thursday, bringing a 4-5 hour spell of strong and gusty winds.
Winds are expected to reach 50-60 mph over exposed coasts and hills. Winds, arriving across western areas during the morning will ease during the afternoon, whereas eastern areas will see winds peak during the afternoon.
Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde, Wales, Yorkshire & Humber
The system could bring gusts in excess of 80mph on exposed coasts in Northern Ireland, northern England, northwestern Wales and western Scotland. An Amber National Severe Weather Warning for wind has been issued, along with new warningsfor snow, wind and rain.
Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest of the UK on Friday, clearing to the northeast on Friday night and will initially bring snow for some, with accompanying rain and wind. This has the potential to cause travel disruption, power cuts and damage to building and homes.
A change from Thursday
Recent relatively benign conditions, albeit with plenty of grey skies, are likely to continue through Wednesday, with some outbreaks of rain in places.
However, a major change in the UK’s weather starts on Thursday, as a front bringing heavy rain moves eastwards through the day. Conditions turn both wet and windy during the early hours on Friday morning as Storm Éowyn arrives, with rain starting off as snow over parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and higher ground in northern England.
A Yellow warning for winds in western parts of Wales, southwest England and the southern coast of England has been issued from 07:00 until 18:00 on Thursday.
Storm Éowyn disruption on Friday
Storm Éowyn, pronounced ‘Ay-oh-win’, will begin to influence the UK’s weather early on Friday, with strengthening winds initially in southwestern parts of the UK with accompanying heavy rainfall. This will quickly spread northeast to the rest of the UK during Friday morning. There is also a chance of snow over Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland as the system initially bumps into cold air, however much of this will quickly change to rain as milder air moves in.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “Storm Éowyn is expected to bring very strong winds and widespread disruption on Friday. There are currently a number of weather warnings in place, with all parts of the UK covered by one warning at some point on Friday.
“Storm Éowyn is expected to cross Northern Ireland early on Friday morning. It will then continue northeast across the northern half of Scotland during Friday afternoon and is expected to be centred near Shetland during Friday evening.
“The strongest wind gusts are likely to be felt across parts of Northern Ireland, southern and central Scotland, northern England and northwest Wales, where exposed sites could get gusts in excess of 80mph, possibly 90mph, which has the potential to cause impacts for those in these areas. The focus for the highest winds shifts to Scotland on Friday night into Saturday.