Mammoth 65mph winds forecast as Met Office issues major wind warning today

31 January 2024 , 06:30

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Forecasters say strong winds had the potential to bring travel chaos, blow down trees and even cause power cuts, (Image: PA)

More wintry weather is on the way as Brits brace for mammoth winds set to hit the country this week.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning covering half of the country today due to strong gusts. The wind will be particularly strong in coastal areas, experts said, with weather maps predicting wind speeds of up to 65mph. The warning, which covers the North, Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, comes into force from 9am and last until 5pm.

Forecasters say strong winds have the potential to bring travel chaos, blow down trees and even cause power cuts, as well as resulting in road disruption with potential restrictions on high-sided vehicles. A spokesperson said there was a small chance of "damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs" and that "that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts".

It comes as some weather maps have projected snow for parts of the UK later this week. Up to 8cm of the white stuff could fall in parts of the North East, particularly in remote areas of North Yorkshire and Northumberland. A rare weather phenomenon may also hit parts of the North East. Freezing rain has also been reported earlier this month, and weather charts have predicted more than 7mm could fall later this week.

The unusual event occurs when snow melts back into rain before super-cooling closer to the ground and freezing almost instantly as it falls, sometimes creating thin layers of ice on things such as plants or on our cars. This could be dangerous for road users however, with the Met Office saying it was particularly bad news for planes.

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

A yellow warning comes into force from Wednesday morning (Met Office)

Gusts of up to 65mph could hit parts of Britain (PA)

Looking further ahead, Brits look set to be in the grip of cold next week as we finally leave January behind. The Met Office said in its long range forecast: “There is a chance colder conditions could then become established more widely during the first full week of February, with increased chance of wintry weather, especially northern and central UK, should Atlantic cloud and rain be forced to track across the south of the country.

“Equally, similar conditions to the start of the period could well prevail; confidence is low at this range in the weather type which will become most dominant. Following on from earlier in the month, either the period will start changeable with temperatures overall around average and a northwest to southeast split in conditions, or colder conditions will have become established, mainly across the north.

“Either way, through mid-February there is an increasing likelihood of more settled conditions with winds arriving from the north. This would increase the chance of some colder spells, with a greater likelihood of wintry conditions at times, particularly in the north and east.”

Susie Beever