As the UK prepares for a busy day on the roads as people return from the Christmas holidays, forecasters are warning of potentially hazardous conditions as Storm Gerrit hits the country. The Met Office has issued a number of yellow wind and rain warnings across much of the UK, with wintry hazards likely.
Simon Partridge, a Met Office meteorologist, explained that the storm was named to highlight the risk associated with the weather to the public. “Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that,” he said.
The storm is expected to bring wet and windy weather to “pretty much the whole of the UK”, with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland. A yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of Scotland on Wednesday, with the warning covering “pretty much the whole” of the region. In addition, wind warnings have been issued for the south of England, across the English Channel coast, as well as for parts of western Wales, north-west England, Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, and the Northern Isles.
Stormy Weather Looms Over UK as Gerrit Brings Rain and WindThose areas covered by wind warnings can expect gusts of 50-60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts. In terms of rain, the Met Office has issued warnings for the whole of Northern Ireland, western Wales, north-west England, and a combined rain and snow warning for Scotland.
Rain in the warning areas is forecast to be 40-60mm, with the potential for 70-90mm in the western hills of Wales and the western side of the Pennines. Anywhere above 200 metres in Scotland and the Northern Isles is likely to see some snow, according to Partridge.