People in the South West could be facing an unsettled weekend of weather with heavy rain set to arrive in the region. Tropical Storm Danielle is strengthening into a hurricane across the Atlantic and could lash the UK within days, meteorologists have warned.
The weather system is currently hovering in the middle of the ocean but a Met Office spokesman admitted it was far from clear where it would end up. They said: “Tropical Storm Danielle is expected to remain in the Atlantic over the next five days, moving very slowly but strengthening to hurricane status.
“Following that there are a minority of solutions that track it closer to the UK, hence the potential for swell /surf in from it but most solutions keep it away from the UK. But there is a lot of uncertainty around the track further than five days ahead and we will report on the situation if it is something to be concerned about.”
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Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge added: “Meteorologists will be watching the development of Danielle over the next few days. At this lead time, there can’t be much certainty about any potential track into the North Atlantic and even less about how it could modify weather patterns nearer to the UK.
“When hurricanes enter the North Atlantic they decay very quickly and their main influence is modifying weather patterns rather than retaining their own identity. If Danielle days venture closer to our shores then her effects could include increased swell.
"The warmth and moisture that ex-hurricanes bring into the Atlantic can modify our own home-grown weather patterns, adding to wind strengths and rainfall.”
In the South West, temperatures are likely to remain high hitting 21°C in some areas and chances of heavy downpours. Next week, it will continue to be unsettled with bands of heavy rain slowly moving across the region with the possibility of thundery showers.
Here the forecast from the Met Office for the region over the next few days:
Today
A rain band arrives across Cornwall this morning, edging slowly eastwards into Devon through the day. Becoming windier, especially in the west and around coastlines elsewhere. Drier further east. Maximum temperature 21 °C.
Tonight
Some showers will continue into the evening in the far west. Around midnight a band of heavy rain will move eastwards across Devon and Cornwall. Remaining drier further east. Minimum temperature 12 °C.
Sunday
Overnight rain will continue to spread eastwards through the morning affecting most of the region. This will then be followed by showers that could turn heavy and thundery. Maximum temperature 21 °C.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday
Remaining unsettled with bands of heavy rain slowly moving across the region and heavy, thundery showers in-between. Feeling warm and rather humid in any sunshine. Windy at times.
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