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UK weather: Storm Agnes to bring heavy rain and 80mph gusts

Emma Gatten
·2-min read
Waves crash over the breakwater by Newhaven Lighthouse, Edinburgh, during Storm Antoni in August
Waves crash over the breakwater by Newhaven Lighthouse, Edinburgh, during Storm Antoni in August - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP

Strong winds and heavy rain are expected on Wednesday and Thursday when Storm Agnes hits the UK.

The first named storm of the season is expected to be felt particularly on the Irish Sea coasts after moving into the western areas of the UK and Ireland on Wednesday.

A yellow wind warning has been issued for most of the UK, except the South East, on Wednesday into Thursday, indicating a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris.

“While the precise track and depth of Storm Agnes is still being determined, there’s a high likelihood of wind gusts around 50 to 60mph for some inland areas,” said Steve Ramsdale, Met Office chief meteorologist.

“Exposed coastal areas could see gusts of 65-75 mph with a small chance of a few places seeing around 80mph.

“As well as some very strong winds for many, Storm Agnes will also bring some heavy rain, with the highest totals more likely in Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“Around 60mm of rain is possible in a few places over high ground in Scotland.”

Power cuts and travel delays

The Met Office warned that there was a small chance of power cuts, and delays to journeys were likely, including some road and bridge closures.

A motorcyclist rides through floodwater as the River Thames overspills its banks in the wake of rainfall from Storm Antoni
A motorcyclist rides through floodwater after the River Thames overspilled its banks in the wake of rainfall from Storm Antoni - TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
A fallen tree on the road to Veryan on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, as Storm Antoni hit parts of the UK
A fallen tree on the road to Veryan on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, after Storm Antoni hit parts of the UK - David Davies/PA

More settled weather is expected to arrive by the weekend.

Agnes is the first named storm of the season, which started on September 1, and follows storms Antoni and Betty last month.

Guy Barter, chief horticulturalist for the RHS, warned gardeners to trim back any branches that might be pulled off by the storms.

“The trees have all got their leaves on at the moment as has all the other garden vegetation, and the weight of the rain and the battering of the winds might cause other things to fall over.

“So either cut things back or reinforce the staking because it might have got worn down over the summer. Make sure your greenhouses sound, fix any fences and brace yourself for wind damage.”

He also called for people to make the most of the apples and pears that were likely to be shaken from trees.

“It’s apple and pear season. So fruits will be shaken from the trees. Rush out and harvest what you can before it falls to the ground, gets bruised and won’t keep.”