A storm is set to hit the UK on Saturday as the Met Office warns of strong winds reaching up to 70mph.
Storm Kathleen is set to bring a deep area of low pressure that will move towards the UK and Ireland from the southwest, bringing strong gusts.
A yellow severe weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland, as well as the west coast of England, Wales, and southern Scotland.
Though temperatures are expected to be higher than average this weekend, gusts between 50mph and 60mph are expected across much of the warning area.
Coastal locations could bring 70mph wind speeds, with weather maps showing significant wave swell heading towards the UK from around 8am on Saturday, March 6.
The warning is in place from 8am on Saturday until 10pm, with eastern Northern Ireland the worst affected.
Chief Meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: “Storm Kathleen will bring strong gusty winds to western areas of the UK through Saturday. Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are expected quite widely, while some exposed spots, particularly in coastal Northern Ireland, will see 60 to 70 mph gusts with large waves also expected.
“There will also be some blustery showers in the west with the eastern side of the UK seeing a drier and brighter day. With the winds coming from the south, some unseasonably warm air will be drawn across parts of the UK. When combined with sunny spells in East Anglia we could see temperatures reaching 21°C or 22°C for a time on Saturday. These temperatures are well above average for the time of year and the highest we’ve seen in the UK since last October.”
The weather is expected to cause significant delays on roads, with drivers urged to avoid coastal locations and higher routes.
By Sunday the low pressure will be to the northwest of the UK with gusts of around 50 mph still possible here at times though the day, winds will continue to ease from the south into the evening.
Blustery showers will push north-eastwards across the UK through the day, with the southeast of England likely to be the driest and brightest region.
Low pressure will still be in charge of the UK’s weather through the beginning of next week with further wind and rain at times for many.
From the middle of next week, there is a chance of drier conditions developing at times in the south, as high-pressure tries to build in. Elsewhere, conditions are likely to remain rather unsettled, although there will be a tendency for the heaviest and most prolonged spells of rain to become focused across northwestern areas.
