The Met Office has issued an update on Storm Erin as the country braces for a battering of strong winds and rain, marking the end of the current heatwave. The nation enjoyed a fine week of weather, with people flocking to their nearest beach to soak up the sun.
In Manchester, Sunday (August 17) saw temperatures comfortably sitting at 25C, following a week where the city centre experienced a high of 30C on Wednesday (August 13). Tuesday (August 12) was the pinnacle of the heatwave, with London recording a scorching 33.4C. Although temperatures gradually cooled down throughout the week across the country, the south-west of England still experienced highs of 30C on Saturday (August 16).
The upcoming week in Manchester is set to remain warm, with daily average temperatures not expected to dip below 20C.
However, a change in weather is on the horizon for the south, as Storm Erin approaches.
A state of emergency was declared on the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antão in Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, after the storm hit them.
Approximately 1,500 people were reportedly forced to evacuate their homes due to the harsh conditions, resulting in nine fatalities.
The National Hurricane Centre has issued a warning that Storm Erin is anticipated to reach the Leeward Islands, Bermuda or the east coast of the US.
According to the Met Office, Storm Erin could wreak havoc on the UK’s weather later this month, bringing intense winds and heavy rain.
Looking at the long-range forecast between Tuesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 28, a Met Office spokesperson said: “The details during this period carry low confidence. High pressure will probably be increasingly displaced to the north through the first part of this period, allowing areas of low pressure to potentially make inroads from the Atlantic.
“This brings an increasing possibility of stronger winds and rain, some of which could be heavy and thundery, especially for southern and western areas, but this perhaps becoming more widespread with time.
“Overall, temperatures look to remain above average, with the potential for some further hot spells, especially in the south. One of the determining factors of the forecast through this period will be the behaviour of what is currently Tropical Storm Erin as it progresses into the North Atlantic; this being a quite typical source of uncertainty in late summer.”
They added: “Beyond Monday, the forecast becomes more uncertain, largely due to developments in the Atlantic. Tropical storm Erin is currently moving towards the United States, and its eventual path could influence UK weather.
“It’s not uncommon for tropical systems at this time of year to be picked up by the jet stream. Recent examples include Storm Floris and ex-tropical storm Dexter. The impact on the UK depends on where these systems sit relative to the jet stream, on the cooler, low-pressure side.
“They can bring wet and windy weather; on the warmer, high-pressure side, they may remain offshore and contribute to warmer conditions. Sometimes the jet stream flows in a relatively straight path, much like a fast-moving river.
“At other times, it meanders and loops, slowing down the movement of weather systems and making their paths less predictable. These meanders can lead to prolonged periods of wet or dry weather, depending on where the jet stream is positioned.”
