Day of extremes as storm and heat both set to hit UK
The UK is expected to record its hottest day of the year so far today – at the same time as Storm Kathleen batters Scotland, Wales and parts of western England with heavy rain and winds of up to 70mph.
The Met Office said temperatures could reach up to 22C in East Anglia today as unseasonably warm air is drawn across parts of the UK during sunny spells.
But it has issued a yellow weather warning for wind in western areas of the UK, including Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and Wales, and the north-west and south-west of England from 8am to 10pm.
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “One of the residual effects from Storm Kathleen is helping to draw up that warmer air as well. It’s not unusual for these storm systems to bring warmer air with them.”
The highest temperature of the year so far was 19.9C, recorded at the end of January at Achfary in northwest Scotland.
Yesterday, the Met Office updated its weather warning to forecast stronger gusts during Storm Kathleen than previously predicted.
It’s not unusual for these storm systems to bring warmer air with them
It warned of injuries and danger to life from “large waves and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”, adding that road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected. There could also be power cuts, and mobile phone coverage could be affected.
Southerly winds are expected to gust quite widely to 50mph-60mph today, while some exposed spots will see gusts up to 70mph with large waves also likely.
Storm Kathleen, named by the Irish meteorological service Met Eireann, is the 11th named storm in eight months.
It is only the second time in a UK storm season the letter K has been reached in the alphabet, after Storm Katie in March 2016.