LONDON, Nov 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Storm Bert is expected to bring high winds and potential flooding as it hits the UK on Saturday.
Disruption is expected over the weekend, with gusts of 65-96km/h forecast in Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and northern England.
An amber warning for snow and ice has been issued for central Scotland, while numerous yellow warnings for rain and wind are in place for Saturday and Sunday.
The Environment Agency says heavy rain could lead to areas of localised flooding in northern England.
On Friday new weather warnings were issued for wind and rain on Saturday and Sunday.
Across south-west England and Wales, a Met Office yellow warning for rain says that, throughout Saturday, 50-75mm of rain could fall widely.
In some parts, such as south Wales and Dartmoor, there could be as much as 150mm – which would be the whole of November’s average rainfall in just a day.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said there are likely to be “heavy” outbreaks of rain throughout Saturday, “falling as snow” at times across northern parts of England and parts of Scotland.
A yellow warning for wind has been issued for Scotland and parts of Northern England from 05:00 to 19:00 GMT on Saturday.
Those winds will continue at times well into Sunday and Monday as Bert makes slow progress eastward across the UK.
Strong winds have the potential to cause damage and disruption to the transport network and buildings, with power cuts also possible.
Network Rail is already advising passengers to check journeys before they travel this weekend.
Bert is also expected to bring significant snow and blizzards to northern England and Scotland.
The Met Office is forecasting as much as 20-40cm off snow on higher ground in an area north of Scotland’s central belt, where an amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 07:00 and 17:00 on Saturday.
Police are urging people not to travel on Scotland’s roads on Saturday as the country braces itself for more heavy snowfall.
An amber cold health alert is in place for much of England until 18:00 on Saturday.
It means there is an increased health risk to vulnerable people, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to check on those who may be at risk.
Some people may be eligible for cold weather payments – a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills during times of exceptionally cold weather.
By Saturday, Wales, as well as central and southern England, could see temperatures of up to 12-15C.
It will remain cooler in the north on Saturday at 2-7C before the milder weather spreads to all parts by Sunday.
The cold weather has already been causing disruption.
More than 100 schools across the Scottish Highlands and 30 in north Wales were closed on Thursday, while almost 200 schools in Devon and Cornwall shut or were partially closed due to the snow.
Earlier in the week, Scotland recorded its coldest early winter temperature since 1998 when Braemar in Aberdeenshire reached a low of -11.2C. — NNN-AGENCIES
