Storm Ciarán is set to impact the UK, Ireland, France, and the Iberian Peninsula from Wednesday night into Thursday. Gusts could reach up to 100 mph (160 km/h) off the western coast of France before the winds push through the Channel.
Brittany and the western French coast may see wind speeds exceeding 80 mph, with gusty conditions likely persisting through the weekend.
Heavy rainfall is anticipated, raising the risk of flooding in western France and north-western Iberia.
Coastal areas, including northern Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, face potential inundation due to high sea swells from strong winds and low-pressure systems. Additional heavy rain is expected throughout France.
Intense Storm to Impact UK, France, and Iberian Peninsula with 100mph Gusts and Heavy Rain; US and Southern Africa Experience Unseasonable ColdStorm names are assigned by meteorological agencies when severe weather conditions warrant public warnings and preparedness.
In Europe, these names are coordinated by a group including the UK Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and the Netherlands’ KNMI. Storm Ciarán was named by this Western group.
Across the Atlantic, a cold front is bringing unseasonably chilly weather to the US. Denver, Colorado, saw temperatures dip to around -1°C (30°F) on Sunday, about 18°C below average.
Overnight lows in Denver could plunge to -11°C, which is 11°C below normal but short of the October record of -18.9°C set in Boulder in 1917.
Further south, San Antonio, Texas, is forecasted to reach a high of only 9°C on Monday, 16°C below the norm. This cold spell is expected to ease by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, South Africa and Lesotho are also experiencing an unusual cold snap, with Johannesburg’s temperatures struggling to hit 8°C, 16°C below the late October average.