The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the whole of Wales as Storm Eunice is set to hit the country
The weather forecasting service has named two storms that will hit the UK this week - Storm Dudley, that will affect northern parts of the UK on Wednesday, and then Storm Eunice for Wales on Friday, February 18.
A spokesman said on Monday: "Two storms have been named. From Wednesday afternoon Storm Dudley is forecast to bring strong winds to northern parts of the UK.
"Then on Friday, Storm Eunice will bring strong winds to more southern areas and snow to northern areas Warnings are in force"
Wales could be hit by winds of up to 80mph and there is a warning that there could even be blizzards on high ground in north Wales, all thanks to a powerful jet stream fuelling rapidly deepening areas of low pressure. You can read more about how weather in America is affecting the UK here.
On Monday the Met Office said: "Storm Eunice is likely to affect the UK on Friday bringing a period of very strong winds that could cause significant disruption."
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said; “An active jet stream is driving low-pressure systems across the country, both of which are likely to cause some disruption and National Severe Weather Warnings have been issued."
What preparations will you be making to ride out the weather safely? Tell us in the comments box.
Amber winds warnings for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland have been issued for Wednesday and Thursday, and a yellow wind warning for the whole of Wales has been issued for Friday.
The wind warning for Wales, which is in place for midnight on Thursday until 9pm on Friday, says: "Extremely strong winds may develop over southwest England early on Friday, before spreading north and east during the morning.
"It is not yet clear where within the warning area the strongest winds will be but gusts of 60-70 mph are possible over a reasonably large area with a small chance of a brief period of gusts reaching 80mph even inland. Coastal winds are likely to be the strongest.
"In addition to the wind, there is the potential for a period of snow and perhaps blizzard conditions, most likely over northern England, parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and north Wales. However, this is very dependant on the track of the weather system and most places will see heavy rain instead."
The forecaster added:
- There is a small chance that flying debris will result in a danger to life, with fallen trees, damage to buildings and homes, roofs blown off and power lines brought down
- There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
- Where damaging winds occur, there is a chance that long interruptions to power supplies and other services may occur
- There is a small chance that roads, bridges and railway lines could close, with long delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said of the pattern, which is due to move south by midweek: “That's likely to bring some severe gales and possibly storm force winds to parts of this region.
“Western parts of Scotland look like bearing the brunt of the strongest winds, where we could see gusts of 80mph to 90mph on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
"That's strong enough to bring some quite widespread disruption, and it's an area of the country that's seen several named storms this winter season already."
On Sunday, emergency services had to r escue a man from a car trapped in flood waters after heavy rain caused disruption in Wales.
Two people managed to escape from the car on a coastal road in Carmarthenshire before fire crews were called to rescue the third.
A swift water rescue team saved the man from a car along the A4066 between St Clears and Llanybri just before 4pm.
The rescue came as a large part of Wales was covered by a Met Office weather warning for rain on Sunday (February 13).
Natural Resources Wales has got 24 flood alerts in place across the whole of Wales.
It is two years this week since Wales was hit by Storm Dennis, flooding hundreds of homes and businesses in south Wales.
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Met Office forecast for Wales this week
Monday:
Showery rain during the morning, heaviest and most persistent in the north and west. Brief sunny intervals in the south and these developing elsewhere by the afternoon, although scattered showers continuing. Brisk north-westerly winds, strongest along the west coast. Maximum temperature 9 °C.
Monday night:
Becoming dry and cold for a time this evening with skies clearing. Temperatures rising later overnight as strengthening winds and heavy rain arrives across most of Wales by dawn. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
Tuesday:
A wet and windy start to the day with some heavy rain. This becoming confined to the far south by the afternoon, with brighter conditions developing for many. Remaining breezy. Maximum temperature 10 °C.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Very mild and windy on Wednesday with heavy rain in the west and local gales. Colder and brighter on Thursday with showers. Heavy rain and locally damaging winds on Friday.
