Jet stream threatens ‘strongest winds of winter so far’ across UK this weekend

The Met Office says a jet stream moving towards the UK this weekend will bring ‘perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far’.

The worst of the weather is set to hit western Scotland, including Glasgow, and much of Northern Ireland, where a yellow weather warning is in place from midnight on Friday to noon on Saturday.

These areas could see winds of up to 80mph, with power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings possible, plus heavy rain.

Although the winds are unlikely to be quite as strong in other parts of the country, powerful gusts, as well as rain, are still expected.

The Met Office posted on X: ‘A powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far

‘This means a return to wet and windy conditions in the UK by Friday with some disruptive weather likely.’

Today and tomorrow, however, will be ‘fairly benign’ the forecaster said, with cloud and spots of rain across much of the UK.

There will be some breaks in the cloud in certain areas, with temperatures hovering around 8°C or 9°C.

Tuesday is expected to be slightly brighter than today, before Wednesday sees the beginning of more unsettled conditions.

Craig Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘The middle of the week will see a mix of cloud, brightness and spots of rain.

‘Overall, conditions are expected to become gradually more unsettled. But Thursday is where we will start to see a more significant change across the country.

‘We’re expecting to see more rain accompanied by stronger winds. Temperatures will also be below par for what we usually see at this time of year.’

Friday is expected to bring even stronger winds and heavier rain, he added.

‘Temperatures are expected to remain mostly average, though parts of the north could see small spells of snow,’ Mr Snell said.

‘We’re just keeping an eye on things for now.

‘But overall conditions are expected to gradually become more unsettled as the week goes on.

‘The working week across the entirety of the UK will start like it’s been for the last few days. But by the end things will be very different.’

The change to more unsettled conditions is due to a ‘deep area of low pressure’ that will be ‘steered towards the UK on a powerful jet stream – fuelled by the recent cold spell over North America,’ the Met Office said on its website.

The windy, rainy weather is expected to continue for the rest of the month and into the start of February.

The Met Office said there is potential for ‘a named storm at some point’.

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