Yahoo News Met Office forecasts torrential rain and strong winds with gales in the west
Brits are bracing for a deluge of rain and gales with gusts surpassing 50mph today. The dreary weather is set to last over the next 10 days, according to the Met Office, which says an incoming low pressure system from the Atlantic will bring the wet conditions.
Alongside the rain and wind, temperatures will be low for the time of year, with thermometers plunging to single figures overnight in parts of Devon and even lower further north. Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir has warned of potential gales in coastal regions and challenging driving conditions due to the downpours in certain areas, reports the Mirror.
"Rain spreads across the country with some stronger winds. The ridge which we've seen through Wednesday tends to fade away towards the east as this rain arrives from the west," she explained. She added that the South West could even see some gales throughout the period.
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"The winds will pick up some strength particularly through the afternoon on Thursday, even some gales along coastal districts towards the southwest. And notice this low pressure here will remain in place through Friday and in fact into the weekend as well, with rain and showers."
The downpours are expected to arrive in Devon from around 9.30am today and last nearly 12-hours. Windspeeds of more than 40mph have been predicted along the southern coastline and across Dartmoor.
BBC weather presenter Ben Rich also forecasted significant rainfall, commenting: "Rain heavy and persistent across the southwest of England and Wales, 20 to 30mm of rain possible and around some western coasts, gusts of winds of 50 miles per hour or more, quite unusual for the time of year."
Ms Nasir additionally noted: "Through the day sun will be replaced by clouds as it slowly tracks its way eastwards, it will be a slow process but a wet and windy start for Northern Ireland, west Wales, the West Country that rain by around lunchtime reaches the western side of Scotland. North West England seeing some patchy rain and we could see some just moving in across West Midlands."
"We hang on to some sunshine across Orkney as well as Caithness, Aberdeenshire, Cairngorms and some dry skies across the Home Counties, East Anglia even southern parts of Lincolnshire. So through Thursday evening if you are travelling it is fine across the far north of Scotland but you may run into some heavy rain across the central belt, Northern Ireland, northern England, particularly towards the Pennine districts, the North West down towards Wales as well. Notice these winds they will be a feature of the weather across the Irish Sea coast, some strength here."
South West Met Office forecast
Today
Showery rain spreading east across the region through this morning, bringing an increasingly wet day. The heaviest rain will mostly be over higher ground this afternoon. Becoming unseasonably windy in the west with coastal gales possible and feeling cool. Maximum temperature 15 °C.
Tonight
Cloudy and damp this evening with drizzle and rain at times. Turning drier overnight but showers remain possible. Winds easing though staying breezy on coasts. Much milder than last night. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
Friday
A mixed day of cloud, warm sunny spells and showers. The showers may be heavy with a risk of thunder but will generally move through quickly. Blustery winds at times. Maximum temperature 18 °C.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Changeable and showery with some heavy downpours and thunderstorms in places, especially on Saturday. Occasional drier periods too, particularly on Sunday and Monday and feeling warm in the sunnier spells.
