Britain looks set for a battering with a 450 mile long storm and heavy rain smashing into the country later this week. The latest weather maps show peak gusts in excess of 90mph in the north of Scotland at midnight on March 17 with strong winds expected across the north.
The brutal weather front appears to stretch from Wick in Caithness down as far as Huddersfield and Leeds. Much of Scotland, the north of England, Pennines and Yorkshire Dales could see gusts of 70mph or so overnight on March 17, according to WX Charts.
Irish Sea coasts around Cumbria and Dumfries & Galloway also look set to bear the brunt with high winds possible in the far north of Anglesey.
The western half of Britain will see rain overnight on March 17, with total rainfall at midnight pushing 58mm in Argyll & Bute and west Highlands.
Gwynedd will see 65mm while Powys is set for 51mm total rainfall at midnight on March 17, WX Charts’ weather maps show.
Elsewhere, east Wales, the West Midlands, south west England and much of south England will see accumulated rainfall ranging from 18mm up to 25mm around Plymouth, according to WX Charts.
The Met Office’s long range weather forecast covering March 15-24 includes warnings of rain, showers and storms.
It says: “From the end of the week a broadly unsettled pattern continues. Friday likely seeing longer spells of rain clearing northern areas whilst showers, sometimes heavy with thunderstorms developing elsewhere, though some brighter spells at times and clearing skies overnight.
“Temperatures feeling mild out of the fresh winds. Through the weekend further bands of rain expected to push in from the west and southwest, breaking to showers at times.”
The Met Office’s long range forecast adds that into the new week temperatures trend down toward average for the time of year as a broadly unsettled pattern continues with periods of rain.
These will be heaviest in western areas, pushing across the country to be followed by occasional showers, with a risk of thunderstorms mainly in the south, according to the forecaster.
Today: Cloudy skies today with mist and murk around eastern coasts. Outbreaks of drizzle will continue in the east, and light rain will spread across Northern Ireland and western Scotland. Largely dry elsewhere, perhaps with some brighter spell in the southwest.
Tonight: Cloudy and mostly dry at first this evening. Heavy rain will move into western areas later in the night with brisk winds. Staying frost free under the blanket of cloud.
Tuesday: Outbreaks of rain will spread across the UK, turning heavy at times. Becoming a little drier in southern England during the afternoon. Breezy for most and windy in the west.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: Rain continuing this week, particularly in the northwest where it will be occasionally heavy. Some fine and dry weather in the southeast at times. Turning milder through the week.
