Wales can expect heavy rain and strong winds this week as the remnants of Hurricane Ian is set to batter the UK. The hurricane has caused mass power outages and flooding in Florida USA, with winds of over 150 mph reported. And while the picture across the Atlantic is much tamer, the British isles will still feel the fallout from the destruction.
A yellow weather warning for wind and rain is in place in parts of the UK for Friday, September 30, with treacherous conditions expected. The warning has currently not been extended to Wales but the Met Office is forecasting heavy rain and winds of nearly 60mph for the country.
By 1pm on Friday the entire Welsh west coast will be battling strong gales, reaching 57mph in parts. Alongside this, across the country will experience heavy rainfall throughout the day, with up to 32mm per hour expected to fall up north. The weather looks set to mellow out over the weekend, however, showers are still forecast.
Read more : There'll be no huge fan zones in Wales for the World Cup and the FAW have now explained why
The Met Office forecast for Wales on Friday reads: "After a dry and cloudy start, rain will quickly spread into the west during the morning, spreading to all parts during the afternoon. Rain will turn heavy with strong winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C."
Explaining the first period of wet and windy weather to brace the UK this autumn, Met Office forecaster Alex Deacon said: "If we look at the broader picture across the Atlantic the jet stream is getting agitated, a more typical autumnal set up with very strong winds high up in the atmosphere arriving across the Atlantic and that will bring us a fairly dramatic shift in our weather as we head through Friday into Saturday."
Here is the Met Office forecast where you live on Friday:
Cardiff
Gales will reach highs of 35mph in Cardiff by Friday evening, as the jet stream moves eastbound across the country. The capital will be dry throughout the day until late afternoon when up to 8mm of rainfall an hour is expected.
Swansea
Gales will pick up quickly in Swansea on Friday, shifting from 19mph in the morning, to more than 43mph by lunchtime. These strong winds will slow down as the evening approaches, however, remains over 20mph throughout Friday night. Showers will begin to form over the city from 10am, with heavy rainfall forecast for the afternoon - up to 16mm per hour in places.
Aberystwyth
The west coast of Wales will undoubtedly be hardest hit by the winterly weather, with strong winds and heavy rain forecast throughout the day. In Aberystwyth, winds will reach 43mph by late afternoon, dipping only to 29mph as the evening approaches. Heavy rainfall will start at around 10am and will continue throughout the day into Friday night, with 16mm per hour expected at points.
Bangor
The north west coast will be the worst hit by the extreme weather, with gales reaching speeds of 57mph in Holyhead. In Bangor they will reach a maximum of 50mph by the afternoon, and remain high throughout the evening. Heavy rain will dominate the region throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
Newport
The east of the country will be fairly sheltered from the adverse conditions, however, can still expect heavy showers and fairly strong winds. There will be gales of 36mph by Friday afternoon and heavy rain up to 8mm per hour throughout the evening.
Builth Wells
As winds start to move westbound throughout Friday, inland Wales will start to feel the fallout from the strong weather. In Builth Wells, gales of up to 39mph will start to batter the hills from late Friday afternoon, however, look to slow down as the evening approaches. In terms of rainfall, It will be relatively dry throughout th day before heavy showers form by 7pm.
READ NEXT:
