Storm Éowyn was named by the Met Office today as 80mph winds are set to cause chaos from Friday along with torrential rain and snow.
A yellow wind warning is in place from midnight on Friday to midday on Saturday and covers all of Northern Ireland and the western half of Scotland, including Glasgow.
The fifth named storm of the 2024/25 season comes after Darragh on December 6, Conall on November 27, Bert on November 22 and Ashley on October 20.
Storm Éowyn will bring winds reaching up to 80mph to Britain this weekend as gusts are pushed towards the country by a supercharged Atlantic jet stream.
People in northern and western Scotland as well as Northern Ireland have been warned the storm’s strong gales on Friday and Saturday could bring localised damage, power cuts and travel disruption.
The yellow weather warning for wind covers parts of Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Moray, the Highlands, Orkney, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, and Dunbartonshire.
Inland areas could see wind speeds reach 50 to 60mph and around western coastal regions, gusts may reach between 70 and 80mph.
In the last few days, the jet stream above the UK has been weak and spread out allowing high pressure to linger close by, preventing any powerful weather incidents.
Winds reaching up to 80mph are set to sweep across Britain this weekend as gusts are pushed towards the country by a supercharged Atlantic jet stream
A person crosses the street as people travel on their morning commutes in foggy weather in Walthamstow, east London on January 21
However, this is set to change as the contrast between the frosty Atlantic air surging southwards across North America and the much milder air further south prepares to ‘supercharge’ the jet stream.
The winds at the core of the jet stream are predicted to exceed 260mph (418km/h) above the Atlantic.
The powerful injection of energy high up in the atmosphere will cause an area of low pressure to deepen rapidly as it makes its way to Britain bringing the threat of gales and disruption on Friday and Saturday.
Torrential downpours are also expected to hit the north-west of the country with temperatures remaining cold enough for snow to fall over hills in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, some areas of the south are set to enjoy some milder weather conditions.
Storm Éowyn will bring a longer period of more turbulent conditions with computer models suggesting further deep areas of low pressure could pass close to the UK next week.
Grey clouds are set to cover much of the UK today and more rain is expected in some northern parts of England, Wales and northern Scotland.
Many commuters across the country were met with thick blankets of low hanging fog as they made their way to work this morning.
The Met Office’s wind forecast map for Friday shows a yellow warning in place in northern and western Scotland as well as Northern Ireland
The wind map for Saturday shows the same yellow warning in place in northern and western Scotland as well as Northern Ireland
On Wednesday, the showers will move down the country to southern England.
Thursday will bring a major shift to the weather, as a front bringing heavy downpours travels eastwards throughout the day.
The highest accumulations of heavy rainfall are expected in North Wales and Northwest England where 20-30mm could fall over the hills with some possibility of snow over the Scottish mountains.
The strongest gales are predicted to hit Northern Ireland and western Scotland on Friday, where speeds could reach above 80mph along coastlines and high ground.
More to follow
