Met Office issues weather warnings for heavy rain and gusts of up to 80mph across UK

Weather warnings have been issued across the UK for strong winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain over the next few days.

A Met Office yellow warning for gusty conditions - 65-75mph in places - begins from 4pm today in north and northwest Scotland until 9am on Thursday.

That is followed by a second warning for strong and gusty winds on Thursday and Friday with "disruption possible" on the roads and railways.

It covers an area of the UK from Northern Ireland, extending across parts of Scotland, north Wales, northern England, the north Midlands and East Anglia.

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Inland gusts could hit between 40-50mph but along exposed coasts through the North Channel and Irish Sea it might reach 60-70mph.

Forecasters also predict heavy showers at times, until the warning, which begins at 3pm on Thursday, expires at 6am on Sunday.

The Met Office advises, those on the coast, to "stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves".

A third warning for strong winds and heavy rain also comes into force - for England and Wales - from 3pm on Friday and will last until 6am on Sunday.

Forecasters are predicting these winds "may quite widely gust to around 40-50mph" but "perhaps locally nearer 80mph".

This could cause difficult driving conditions, travel disruption and flooding in places, it has warned.

Around 15-25mm (0.6-1in) of rain may fall quite widely, but "exposed higher ground in the north and west" - particularly parts of Wales - could see closer to 50-70mm (2-2.7in) and are at risk of flooding.

UK flooding risk returns

The Met Office said there is a slight chance of damage to buildings, homes and businesses being flooded, difficult driving conditions, road closures and power cuts.

Some snow on higher ground above about 200m (656ft) is also predicted.

Around the UK, shipping areas have been warned of intense winds.

Two areas - Faeroes and Bailey - are on alert for storm force 10 and the risk of violent storm force 11, which involves gusts of 69 knots (79mph).

That would be ranked as the second highest level, just below hurricane force.

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Concerns after Storms Bert and Conall

Several communities are still recovering from damaging flooding caused by Storm Bert on 22-25 November.

Winds of more than 80mph were recorded across the UK during the height of the storm.

The Met Office says the weekend of 23-24 November was "exceptionally wet" across South Wales and South West England, with more than 150mm (5.9in) falling in some upland areas.

On 23 November, the average amount of rainfall across the UK was 24mm (1in) making it the wettest day since October 2020.

Among dozens of flood warnings that were issued, a rare severe flood warning - meaning a danger to life - was put in place for the River Nene near Northampton.

Storm Bert was followed by Conall on 27 November which dropped up to 30mm (1.18in) of rain across southern coastal counties of the UK.

It did cause some flooding, but the Met Office says the disruption was more isolated than Bert.

(c) Sky News 2024: Met Office issues weather warnings for heavy rain and gusts of up to 80mph across UK