The latest bout of severe weather in the UK has prompted the Met Office to issue a critical weather warning urging the public to brace for strong gale force winds. The weather agency is cautioning citizens to prepare for potential power outages as they anticipate severe wind conditions expected to hit this week. Forecasts indicate wind speeds reaching up to 70mph, categorized as gale force, with intense rain showers likely to accompany the strong winds, particularly in exposed areas.
The impending weather conditions could lead to significant traffic disruptions and service interruptions across a substantial portion of Northern Ireland, as the looming Hurricane Melissa threatens to bring about similar adverse effects next week. The alert issued this morning specifies that Thursday at 1pm marks the onset of strong winds combined with heavy rain, potentially causing disruptions through Thursday afternoon and evening.
The alert warns of strengthening south to southeasterly winds, with gusts ranging from 40 to 50mph in most areas and potentially reaching 60 to 70mph in exposed regions, especially along coastal areas and over the Mournes. Additionally, outbreaks of heavy rain are expected, with a brief period of intense rain accompanied by strong, gusty winds forecasted for Thursday evening.
The warning encompasses six counties in Northern Ireland – Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone – until 11pm on Thursday, subjecting residents to adverse conditions for a prolonged 10-hour period. The Met Office had previously alerted about the potential influence of Hurricane Melissa, currently impacting the West Indies, on the UK’s weather, maintaining that the situation remains “unsettled.”
According to a spokesperson, Hurricane Melissa is likely to diminish as it moves into the North Atlantic, with a slight possibility of affecting UK weather in the upcoming week. While significant disruptions are improbable at this point, the remnants of the system could contribute to the prevailing unsettled weather in the UK.
The unsettled and changeable weather pattern is anticipated to persist over the next month, as per the long-range forecast covering November 2 to 11. The forecast projects that all regions of the country are expected to experience heavy rain due to low pressure systems, with the western areas likely to bear the brunt, potentially encountering additional gale force winds.
The forecast further predicts intermittent strong winds, with the likelihood of gales or severe gales, interspersed with brief periods of drier or clearer weather, particularly in eastern regions. The prevailing westerly or southwesterly winds are projected to maintain above-average temperatures, reducing the chances of overnight frost and fog compared to the norm, especially in the initial period.
