UK weather warnings as Met Office warns of 'potentially disruptive' conditions

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Forecasters are warning of 'potentially disruptive' conditions across the UK as the first weather warnings have been dished out. The Met Office has pointed to an influence from the sub-zero conditions currently gripping America having an impact on these shores.

As reported by StokeonTrentLive meteorologists have warned how a 'powerful Jet Stream' taking aim at the UK could bring with it rain, wind - and even more snow. Looking ahead to the weekend forecasters have warned of the possibility of weather warnings and a named storm.

Now the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind for the western side of Scotland along with Northern Ireland. That alert will come in at midnight on Friday and run through to noon on Saturday.

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Currently the service says North Staffordshire is in for a dry, but cool, week until Friday when there's a chance of light rain - and winds getting up to around 40mph. Saturday will then have sunny spells but be cold with winds of up to 28mph.

Come Sunday and gusts could reach 45mph with light rain in the afternoon. The BBC had previously predicted gusts of 50mph for the Potteries on Monday - but that's been scaled down to 40mph.

Strong winds set to hit on Friday
Strong winds set to hit on Friday

Forecasters have warned 'potentially disruptive' weather will move in later this week. Chris Almond, deputy chief meteorologist with the Met Office said: "A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday. Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.

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“We have issued a yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings.”

Experts say it's being caused by the change in conditions on the other side of the Atlantic. The large, 'very cold pool of air', over parts of North America is generating a contrast in temperatures across the continent which is strengthening the Jet Stream. Chris added: "As the low develops over the Atlantic and interacts with the jet stream it will rapidly strengthen, a phenomenon called ‘explosive cyclogenesis', where the central pressure of a low at latitudes in which the UK lies drops 24 millibars or more in 24 hours.

"This is forecast to happen on Thursday while the system is out over the Atlantic and it will be a mature feature by the time it reaches the UK.”

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