Storm Brian blessed with name by the Irish

THE Met Office was forced to refer to the “strong winds” set to batter the UK coast this weekend as Storm Brian after forecasters in Ireland named the weather system.

Although heavy rain and gusts of up to 70mph may cause coastal flooding and “hazardous” conditions along seafronts in the south, the conditions would not meet the normal threshold to become a storm. However, Met Eireann uses a different formula, based on wind speed, to determine what constitutes a storm, and named the area of low pressure Storm Brian.

Oli Claydon, a Met Office forecaster, said: “We were not thinking of naming it ourselves. We would need an amber warning and we only have a yellow warning at the moment. But they chose to name it and, either way, it will be wet and windy.”

The weather will affect southern England and the west of Wales tomorrow, where winds could reach 70mph in exposed areas.

The Met Office warned thrillseekers not to risk their safety by posing for “storm selfies” along the coast.

A yellow weather warning for wind is in place in the affected areas from 4am until midnight.

Motorists have been advised to reduce their speed and be prepared for sudden gusts, debris and fallen branches in the road.