Yorkshire is bracing for heavy rain and strong winds this week as Tropical Storm Ernesto approaches, following its downgrade from hurricane status.
Once a formidable hurricane, Ernesto has weakened to a tropical storm and is approaching Bermuda. The Met Office predicts that the storm will move into the North Atlantic, potentially influencing weather patterns that could impact parts of the UK, particularly in the north.
While Ernesto’s exact trajectory and effects remain uncertain, meteorologists expect Yorkshire to experience unsettled weather. The storm may briefly regain strength on Monday, August 19, but it will likely weaken as it encounters cooler waters in the northwest Atlantic by Tuesday.
David Oliver, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, shared the most likely forecast: “We anticipate a period of unsettled weather beginning Wednesday, August 21, especially in the north and west, with heavy rain and strong winds possible. In contrast, the southeast may see warmer and less wet conditions.”
Tony Wisson, another Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, addressed concerns about the storm’s potential impact. “Newspaper headlines suggesting that Ernesto itself will batter Britain are misleading,” Wisson explained. “The system will dissipate before reaching us, but the warmth and moisture it contained will merge with a mid-latitude frontal weather system, leading to unsettled conditions across the UK, particularly in the north and west.”
Wisson also noted that while August is typically associated with fine and settled weather, periods of wet and windy conditions are not uncommon, as seen in previous years.
In Yorkshire, winds are expected to strengthen, and clouds will thicken this afternoon, bringing blustery spells of heavy rain later in the day and overnight. From Tuesday, August 20, through Thursday, August 22, the region can expect heavy showers and drier and brighter conditions later in the week. Wednesday, August 21, will likely see rain and strengthening winds, with Thursday bringing very windy conditions, heavy rain, and eventual clearing.
Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts as the situation develops.
