UK weather forecast: Brits brace for four days of heavy rain and gales up to 70mph as forecasters warn of travel disruption, power outages and flooding

London could be blasted with winds up to 60mph
Jeremy Selwyn
Ella Wills6 February 2019

Brits are braced for four days of strong winds and heavy rain as gales up to 70mph are set to sweep across the UK.

The Met Office has issued three separate severe yellow weather warnings covering much of Britain until Saturday evening.

Forecasters have warned of travel disruption, power outages and flooding in parts.

Gusty winds and downpours are due to start in southern and central parts of the UK on Wednesday night, Met Office forecaster Richard Miles told the Standard.

A warning for wind is in place until 9am on Thursday with gusts of 70mph possible on coasts.

Delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely while short term loss of power is possible in parts, according to the Met Office.

Following a "brief intermission" of patchy rain and sunny spells on Thursday, further gales are expected by Friday, Mr Miles said.

A warning for wind will take effect for great swathes of Britain from midday on Friday until 6pm on Saturday as an area of low pressure tracks across northern Britain.

While a warning for heavy rain in Scotland has been issued from 9am on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.

Mr Miles said: "We have got some strong winds coming in for most of the south this evening [Wednesday] with some quite heavy rain.

"Then after a brief intermission tomorrow with patchy rain and some sunny spells, we are expecting more wind Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

The strongest winds on Wednesday will be across the south west and south and west Wales late in the evening, with gusts of 60 to 70mph possible on coasts and 50 to 60mph inland.

Elsewhere winds will be strongest after midnight, with gusts of 60mph on coasts and 50mph inland before easing during Thursday morning.

On Friday, gales will become widespread by the evening, persisting well into Saturday.

And Mr Miles said winds of 60mph might be possible in London.

Winds will gradually ease on Saturday, with the strongest winds becoming confined to Scotland on Saturday afternoon.

In terms of temperatures, Brits should not expect particularly chilly weather this week.

But looking ahead Mr Miles said that the UK could be facing the return of the cold snap after the coming weekend.

He said: "Early next week the weather system will pass through and we should expect a few days of colder frostier weather."

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