Storm Agnes set to batter Britain with 80mph winds during week of misery

24 September 2023 , 21:53

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A woman struggles with her umbrella during wet and windy conditions in Birmingham recently (Image: PA)

Devilish gales of up to 80mph will sweep across the UK this week as "disturbed weather" - so destructive a storm is likely to be named by meteorologists - is about to strike.

Weather maps show a band of low pressure sweeping across the Atlantic Ocean to eventually "pack a punch of gales or severe gales across the north and west on Wednesday". A yellow weather warning has already been issued by Met Office for most of the UK from Wednesday at 10am through until Thursday at 7am amid concerns wind speeds will reach 80mph along the country's coastlines, and 60mph inland.

Nick Finnis, meteorologist with Netweather, writes on the service's blog today: "Particularly disturbed weather is on the cards mid-week, as a deep low looks to track northeast across Ireland and northern Britain on Wednesday – bringing stormy conditions with gales or severe gales in the north and west.

More drizzly and blustery weather is expected across London (PA)

"Although the deep depression may be at its deepest phase to the southwest of Ireland before filling as it moves over the British Isles, it could still pack a punch of gales or severe gales across the north and west on Wednesday, GFS (weather charts) showing 70-80mph over Ireland and exposed Irish Sea coasts of Britain. Also, there will likely be heavy rain or showers in the mix."

It is understood the worst winds on Wednesday will be across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Midlands, northern England and southern Scotland. It'll remain windy and wet in the west on Thursday, Mr Finnis says.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

"The low then looks to track northeast across Ireland then northern Britain on Wednesday, though the track is still uncertain this far out – it may still track further north or south. Ireland could see the worst of the strong winds with this system, models show gusts of 70-80mph – even inland," the forecaster adds.

Gust speeds could hit 80mph along coastal areas, including south Wales (PA)

"But Irish Sea coasts of mainland UK could see similar gusts while inland areas of north Wales, northern England and southern Scotland could see 60-70mph gusts. Outbreaks of rain looks to sweep north and east across the UK ahead of this low too, followed by blustery showers, though rain could be brief towards the southeast before turning drier and sunnier."

There is potential for the unsettled weather to officially be named the UK's first storm of the season, in which case it'll be referred to as Storm Agnes. This depends on the track and intensity of the weather, and meteorologists will analyse this in the coming days to make a decision.

Brian Gaze, forecaster for Weather Outlook, said: "The advice at this stage is to stay up to date with the short range forecasts through the coming days. There is a real possibility that storm Agnes could arrive during the middle part of next week."

Writing in reference to the yellow weather warning, Met Office says on its website: "A spell of strong winds is expected to move northeast through Wednesday, with a small chance that they could be significantly disruptive.

"There is some uncertainty on the precise track and depth of the low, however the most likely outcome at present is for a wide swathe of 50 to 60 mph gusts to affect inland areas, perhaps locally stronger over and to the lee of hills in the north. Some Irish Sea coasts could see gusts of 65 to 75 mph, with a small chance of 80 mph gusts on the most exposed coasts and headlands."

Bradley Jolly