Storm Darragh: UK to be battered by rain, winds as amber warnings issued
Storm Darragh To Strike UK With Heavy Rain And Winds
Storm Darragh is expected to hit certain areas of the UK on Saturday with strong, damaging winds.
Northern Ireland, the south-west of Scotland, and the western regions of England and Wales may experience winds reaching speeds of 80 mph (129 km/h) from Storm Darragh, which was designated by the Met Office on Thursday.
Severe weather warnings in amber and yellow have been put in place, indicating potential power outages, damage to buildings, and interruptions to transportation.
Although heavy rain is expected, it's unlikely that we will experience the same amount of rainfall and flooding as we did during Storm Bert.
The fourth storm of the season, Darragh, arrives just a few weeks after Storms Bert and Conall caused chaos at the end of November.
Chris Fawkes brings us the most recent update on Storm Darragh.
On Friday evening, an emerging low-pressure system will begin to deliver heavy rainfall and increasing winds to the western regions of the UK.
As it progresses into Saturday, this system will intensify into Storm Darragh, with its center moving over northern England.
The Met Office has released an amber alert for severe weather due to strong winds expected in Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland, and western regions of England and Wales. This warning is in effect from 3 AM to 9 PM on Saturday.
Winds are expected to reach speeds of 70-80 mph (113-129 km/h) in coastal regions. As you move farther inland, wind speeds will drop to about 60-70 mph (96-113 km/h).
These powerful gusts of wind could cause harm to structures and lead to travel interruptions, particularly affecting ferry operations in the Irish Sea.
A broad yellow warning from the Met Office has been issued for wind affecting all areas of England and Wales. This warning is in effect from 3 PM on Friday until 6 AM on Sunday, when Storm Darragh is expected to move out into the North Sea.
Winds are expected to reach speeds of 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h) throughout England and Wales, which may result in some interruptions to travel on Saturday.
Flooding Risk Alert: Stay Informed
People who suffered from significant flooding due to Storm Bert might be worried about the possibility of another storm and more heavy rainfall.
Although the overall rainfall from Storm Darragh won't be extremely significant, certain areas in Wales and central and southern Scotland are anticipated to receive approximately 2-3 inches (50-60mm) of rain by lunchtime on Saturday.
A yellow weather alert from the Met Office is in effect from 3 PM on Friday until noon on Saturday in these regions, as there could be some localized flooding issues.
In other parts of the UK, the total amount of rainfall could reach as high as an inch (25mm).
As Storm Darragh passes, heavy snowfall is expected for a period in the higher elevations of Scotland.
