The Met Office has issued weather warnings across the UK as heavy rain and strong winds sweep through several regions. Eastern Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England and Wales are expected to see significant rainfall, with flooding a real possibility.
Eastern Scotland is under an amber warning until 18:00 GMT for Grampian, Angus, and Perth and Kinross. Rainfall here could reach 60-80mm, with high ground seeing up to 120mm. Some areas could even exceed 150mm since Wednesday evening, raising the risk of both surface water and river flooding.Strong south-easterly winds in north-east Scotland will also make conditions feel particularly harsh.
Yellow warnings are also in place for south-east Wales, Somerset, Devon, and Northern Ireland during Thursday. Heavy, persistent rain on already soaked ground could cause flooding and disrupt travel. As of Thursday morning, there were nearly 160 flood warnings active across England, Scotland, and Wales. Meanwhile, the rest of the UK will see generally cloudy, breezy weather with occasional rain and drizzle.
A Met Office yellow warning will run from 02:00 GMT Friday until 09:00 Saturday. While winds won’t be as strong as those seen during Storm Goretti, flooding is still possible due to already saturated ground, and coastal areas could see large waves.
After the storm, a cold snap will hit much of the UK. Brisk south-east to easterly winds will bring colder air from north-east Europe. By Monday, temperatures could fall 4 to 6 degrees Celsius below the usual end-of-January average. Some areas may see wintry showers or snow, although the exact locations and amounts are still uncertain. Icy and slippery conditions are likely in parts of the country.
