Storm Amy is set to bring “disruption” to the UK in the coming days
Strong winds are set to hit Greater Manchester this weekend(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, is set to hit the UK in the coming days, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the country.
Ahead of the storm, the Met Office has issued several weather warnings for wind including a yellow alert coming into affect at 6pm on Friday, October 3, which will remain in place for 30 hours until 11:59pm on Saturday, October 4.
According to the UK weather agency, Storm Amy is “likely lead to disruption during Friday and Saturday”. More detail from the UK weather agency warns of “difficult driving conditions” and “heavy rain” due to the storm.
The warning reads: “Storm Amy is expected to bring a spell of very strong winds to many parts of northern Britain later on Friday and into Saturday. Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely for many areas and may reach 60 to 70 mph in some places for a time.
As well as wind, heavy rain is set to hit the UK by the weekend(Image: Met Office)
“Exposed coasts and hills will see the highest gusts which could exceed 80 mph. The strongest winds currently look more likely over parts of northern Scotland.
“This will lead to difficult driving conditions for high sided vehicles on prone routes such as cross winds on exposed or high level routes. The very strong winds will also be accompanied by spells of heavy rain, most persistent across parts of western Scotland.”
Met Office weather maps show winds of up to 52mph hitting Greater Manchester at the peak of the storm on Saturday morning (October 4).
This Met Office weather map shows wind gusts of up to 53mph in Greater Manchester(Image: Met Office)
Across the country, wind gusts are set to peack at around 89mph on Saturday morning in northern Scotland, around 45mph in London and 49mph in the south west, according to the latest maps.
According to the UK weather agency, Storm Amy is expected to develop rapidly as it approaches the UK on Friday, October 3, bringing very strong winds and heavy rain to many northern and western areas.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree, said; “Although there is still some uncertainty about the exact track Storm Amy will take, the system will bring gale force winds across northern and western regions, with gusts widely reaching 50 to 60 miles per hour inland in northern Britain, and potentially reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour in places.
“Heavy rainfall is also expected, in particularly over western Scotland, where totals could exceed 30-50 mm in 6-9 hours, increasing the risk of localised flooding. Forecasts and warnings will be updated as the situation becomes more clear, therefore it is important to keep an eye forecast for your area over the coming days.”
Yellow weather warnings for wind are in place across the northern parts of the UK in the coming days(Image: Met Office)
There is currently a yellow weather warning for rain affecting parts of Scotland including Strathclyde and the Highlands until 11:59pm on Friday, October 2 – but now further widespread warnings have been issued.