Met Office says Britain to be hit by wet and windy jet stream with 80mph gusts

30 January 2024 , 06:13

627     0

The weather service's yellow weather warning, in place throughout Wednesday, concerns severe gusts (Image: PA)

Gales of up to 80mph will continue to sweep across the country this week - as the Met Office warns of a "danger to life".

The weather service's yellow weather warning, in place throughout Wednesday, concerns severe gusts, which forecasters say may cause damage to buildings and waves so large they could represent a threat to lives.

Flying debris and beach material being thrown onto seafronts will also be hazardous this week, especially across Highlands & Eilean Siar and Orkney & Shetland in Scotland. The Met Office says: "Strong winds may cause some disruption during Wednesday." Residents should protect their properties, the Met Office says. It recommends people check for loose items outside their homes and plan to secure them.

Items may include bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences. A tweet from the service features a map which shows a huge jet stream - a fast, narrow current of air flowing from west to east - barrelling towards the UK. The isobars, lines on the map to measure pressure, are narrow and tight, which indicates heavy winds.

The Met Office continues: "Very strong southwesterly winds will develop during Wednesday, easing again from the west later in the day. Gusts of 65-75 mph are likely, with a few places perhaps seeing gusts of up to 85 mph at times." Unsettled conditions will remain until the weekend, although temperatures are expected to rise by then. It will only be a brief mild spell as the Mirror told how wintry weather is expected in a fortnight, with snow and freezing rain likely in places.

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

In it's forecast for Tuesday, the weather service wrote on its website : "A cold and sunny start in the north and west. Cloudy, damp and mild elsewhere. Brighter skies gradually filtering southeastwards through the day, though remaining most cloudy across southeast England."

The service says residents should expect:

• There is a slight chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs
• There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
• There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
• There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris
• There is a small chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, air and ferry services are affected
• There is a small chance that some roads and bridges could close

Bradley Jolly