5 storms by Christmas
Huge ‘vortex’ over Atlantic
BRITAIN faces the stormiest early winter for years with a record five “named” storms expected to batter the nation by Christmas.
A 2,000-mile wide “pressure vortex” spanning the Atlantic threatens to cause mass disruption from Wednesday.
The low pressure area will trigger a nightmare three months, with storms Deirdre, Erik, Freya, Gareth and Hannah on the horizon.
Leon Brown, head of meteorological operations at The Weather Company, tipped Britain for a “stormy” winter.
He said: “Four named Atlantic storms are expected by early December plus the risk of a fifth before Christmas.
“Travel disruption and wind gusts over 90mph in parts of the north and west are expected.
Theme
“A stormy, mobile Atlantic pattern is forecast in early winter, before a colder pattern from new year onwards as westerly winds ease.”
Three storms have already hit the country this autumn, with Ali, Bronagh and Callum causing chaos in the last few months. A further five would give a record total of eight named storms by Christmas.
The weather is tipped to turn on Wednesday, but we can enjoy a warm one today with highs pushing 17C.
Met Office forecaster John West explained: “Wednesday looks set to bring windy conditions across the UK.
“With weather systems moving from the Atlantic, western areas will be the focus for the wettest and windiest conditions. This unsettled theme looks set to continue through the first half of November.”
Weather trend forecaster John Hammond has also warned “wet spells” were to be expected.
He said: “This week, a huge vortex of low pressure in the eastern Atlantic will see the jet stream fling a succession of wet and windy spells towards UK.
“The potential for disruptive winds needs to be watched.”