The Met Office has issued a danger to life warning ahead of two storms set to batter the UK this week, with weather ranging from severe winds to snow forecast as temperatures plummet to -10C.
The cold, windy and wet weather is forecast to continue through much of Tuesday before the wind picks up significantly as Storm Dudley arrives from the west on Wednesday. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for central and southern Scotland, as well as northern England on Wednesday and Thursday.
Later in the week, the country is set to be hammered by Storm Eunice, set to arrive on Friday. It is forecast to bring very strong winds as well as wet weather, and Bristol will be subject to a yellow weather warning.
READ MORE: Met Office names Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice - issues yellow warning for Bristol
Storm Dudley is due to arrive on Wednesday, and the Met Office amber warning for Scotland and the north of England reads: "Storm Dudley is expected to affect the UK on Wednesday night and Thursday bringing a period of very strong and disruptive winds. Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, and some roads and bridges are likely to close, leading to longer journey times and cancellations."
“Probably some fallen trees and damage to buildings such as tiles blown from roofs. There is a good chance that power cuts may occur with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage. Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.”
The agency warns that winds could reach up to 90mph while the north of the UK is also under a yellow warning where wind speeds could reach 80mph, The Mirror reports.
On Friday, there is a yellow weather warning in place for the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland due to winds from Storm Eunice. Bristol will be covered by the warning from midnight until 6pm on Friday (February 18).
The Met Office states: “Storm Eunice is likely to affect the UK on Friday bringing a period of very strong winds that could cause significant disruption.”
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said that mild temperatures can be expected on Wednesday before the wind picks up thanks to Storm Dudley: “Coastal gales developing and those develop very widely across northern parts of the UK later on Wednesday as Storm Dudley arrives. And Storm Dudley likely to bring some very serious weather to the northern part of the UK during Wednesday night."
He continued: "Really it is into the evening of Wednesday night that the tightest isobars push into western and southern Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England so winds peaking during the early hours of Thursday as Dudley moves through and a yellow warning has been issued for the northern part of the UK. Within the yellow warning area 60mph to 70mph wind gusts, 80mph within the amber warning or even 90mph around exposed coasts and hills.
"Friday and Eunice as well has a yellow warning attached with the risk of widespread gales in the south, 70mph and in some parts 80mph wind gusts leading to damage to structures as well as disruption to travel and power supplies and risk of dangerous conditions around coastal areas as those winds move through during Friday morning."
Maps from WXCharts show that temperatures on Thursday and Friday could plummet to -5C and the whole country is expected to see bitterly cold weather before the mercury drops again to -10C on Saturday. Snow is also forecast with over 25cm in Scotland and flurries throughout northern England on Friday and Saturday.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern added: "Also on the northern flank of these weather warnings the risk of disruptive snowfall and blizzards for the like of North Wales, northern England and southern Scotland."
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UK forecast for the next five days
Today:
After a dry and bright start in the southeast, rain soon spreading from the west, clearing most parts by late afternoon, leaving sunny spells and scattered showers. Some snow over hills in northern Scotland. Further rain into Northern Ireland later.
Tonight:
Rain and strengthening winds moving quickly east, with drier spells later east of high ground. Becoming very mild across central and southern areas. Colder far north with risk hill snow.
Wednesday:
Increasingly windy with severe gales later across some northern and central areas. Rain moving east followed by sunny intervals and blustery heavy showers. Very mild central and southern areas.
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