Storm Éowyn is set to bring winds of up to 90mph as well as heavy rain and snow for some in the UK. The system could bring the highest gusts to exposed coasts in Northern Ireland, northern England, northwestern Wales and western Scotland.
An amber for wind has been issued, along with new warnings for snow, wind and rain. Thursday will be wet and windy but the Met Office says that Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest of the UK on Friday. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The forecasting agency says it will be clearing to the northeast on Friday night and will initially bring snow for some in the UK, with accompanying rain and wind. The Met Office says: “This has the potential to cause travel disruption, power cuts and damage to building and homes.”
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They say that a major change in the UK’s weather starts on Thursday, as a front bringing heavy rain moves eastwards through the day. The Met Office forecast for Wales on Thursday says: “A wet and windy day with strong and gusty winds bringing some coastal disruption. A band of rain spreads steadily eastwards, heavy at times, though with brighter skies to follow. Remaining breezy into the afternoon, with further blustery showers. Maximum temperature 8°C.”
For Thursday night, it says: “Briefly dry and settled this evening, however cloud soon thickens from the southwest overnight, with very strong winds and heavy rain marking the arrival of Storm Éowyn. Minimum temperature 7 °C.”
The Met Office says that 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.
BBC Breakfast weather presenter said: “It is coming our way on Friday. It is going to bring some gales and severe gales. There will be 90mph gusts, and maybe more than that in some exposed areas. The rain will rattle through and there will be some snow in some areas.
“The storm is developing on Thursday morning in the Atlantic. It is a deep area of low pressure that will continue to deepen as it moves towards the UK. It romps towards our shores.”
A yellow warning in western parts of Wales, southwest England and the southern coast of England has been issued from 7am until 6pm on Thursday.
The Met Office weather map for Wales at 2am on Friday shows heavy rain:
There will still be heavy rain at 5am:
By 8am the rain has moved eastwards:
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.
“An amber weather warning for wind has been issued and covers Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and northern England for most of the day on Friday before winds gradually ease later in the day.”
Storm Éowyn will also bring heavy rain, which starts off as snow in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as over higher ground in northern England. The snow over Northern Ireland will fall before dawn though.
Specifically for Wales, the forecasting agency says: “Winds picking up in western parts on Thursday, bringing a four-to-five-hour spell of strong and gusty winds. Winds are expected to reach 50-60 mph over exposed coasts and hills. Heavy rain arrives for much of Wales on Friday as well as strong winds. Winds will be strongest in north Wales, where peak gusts of 60-70 mph are expected fairly widely inland, with 70-80 mph in some areas, and 80-90 mph along more exposed coasts and hills.”
Looking further ahead, as Storm Éowyn weakens and clears to the northeast of the UK, Saturday will remain a breezy day everywhere with strong winds persisting in the north. It will be drier for many, with showers replacing persistent heavy rain, these wintry in the north, especially over higher ground.
However, a further area of low pressure will influence the UK’s weather from Sunday, initially in the west, but spreading further east and bringing further wind and rain from Sunday and into the start of next week, which could have the potential for further warnings.
