The Met Office indicates that a jet stream moving towards the UK this weekend may bring ‘potentially the most powerful winds of the winter to date.’
The harshest conditions are expected to strike western Scotland, including Glasgow, and substantial parts of Northern Ireland, where a yellow weather alert will be active from midnight on Friday until noon on Saturday.
These locations could experience winds reaching up to 80mph, resulting in power outages, travel disruptions, and possible structural damage, along with heavy rainfall.
While it is unlikely that other regions will encounter winds quite as intense, strong gusts and rain are still anticipated.
The Met Office shared on X: ‘An intense Jet Stream will form over the North Atlantic this week, possibly bringing the strongest winds of winter thus far.’
‘This signifies a return to wet and windy weather in the UK by Friday, with some disruptive conditions likely.’
However, today and tomorrow are predicted to be ‘fairly mild’, the forecaster stated, featuring cloud cover and occasional rain throughout much of the UK.
There will be intermittent breaks in the cloud in certain regions, with temperatures around 8°C to 9°C.
Tuesday is anticipated to be slightly sunnier than today, as Wednesday will usher in more volatile conditions.
Craig Snell, a meteorologist with the Met Office, stated: ‘The midweek forecast shows a combination of cloud cover, brightness, and intermittent rain.’
‘Conditions are expected to progressively become more unstable. However, Thursday will herald a more notable change across the nation.’
‘We anticipate increased rainfall accompanied by stronger winds, with temperatures trending lower than the typical readings for this season.’
Friday is expected to feature even more robust winds and heavier precipitation, he added.
‘Temperatures will likely remain around average, but some northern regions could experience brief spells of snow,’ Mr. Snell remarked.
‘For now, we are simply monitoring the situation.’
‘Overall, conditions are expected to gradually shift towards being more unsettled as the week progresses.’
‘The workweek throughout the UK will commence similarly to the previous days, but by the week’s conclusion, conditions will be quite different.’
The shift towards more unstable weather is attributed to a ‘deep low-pressure system’ that will be ‘driven towards the UK by a potent jet stream fueled by the recent cold snap over North America,’ according to the Met Office’s website.
The blustery, rainy weather is forecasted to persist through the remainder of the month and into early February.
The Met Office indicated the possibility of ‘a named storm emerging at some stage.’
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