90mph storm season to be worst on record

Seven named storms are forecast to plague run-up to Christmas bringing floods and travel disruption

THIS year is set to be the stormiest on record as forecasters are warning of flooding and travel disruption this autumn.

Seven named storms have been forecast to hit Britain’s shores by Christmas, with hurricane-force 90mph-plus gusts of wind threatening to create travel chaos.

Just three named storms hit before Christmas last year, while we endured five named storms by Dec 25 in 2015, the first year UK storms were named.

The prediction, made by Accuweather, the world’s second biggest commercial forecaster, comes after the UK took a battering from Storm Aileen’s 83mph winds last week.

The winds were severe enough to cause travel disruption and the loss of power to 60,000 homes in Wales.

The Met Office said gusts of 74mph hit Mumbles Head in south Wales, with southern parts of northern England and the north Midlands also badly affected. Lorry drivers and motorcyclists were warned of the risk of vehicles being blown over.

The next six storms to hit the UK will be called as Brian, Caroline, Dylan, Eleanor, Fionn and Georgina.

The Met Office, which names UK storms, does not go as far as issuing a prediction for the number of storms – but confirmed a stormy autumn would be expected. Its three-month autumn forecast warns of “one of the stormiest parts of the year” ahead. Extreme gusts over 90mph were forecast by The Weather Company.

In previous years storms with winds slower than 90mph have wreaked havoc, with storm Barbara on Dec 23 and 24 last year delaying Christmas travellers with gusts up to 83mph.

It means Britons can expect travel woes with road and rail disruption – often from toppled trees and flooding – as well as high winds causing flight delays, waves buffeting ferries and properties facing damage.

Tyler Roys, an Accuweather forecaster, said: “Britain could easily have seven storms named by the Met Office by Christmas. Storms’ impacts are likely to be significant.”

Leon Brown, The Weather Company’s head of meteorological operations, said: “Gusts are likely to top 90mph in November and December in exposed western coastal regions. Storms are likely to bring 70mph gusts inland across northern Britain, with 60mph gusts over central and south-eastern Britain.”

The Met Office warned: “Autumn is a season when Atlantic depressions become more intense, making it one of the stormiest and wettest parts of the year. A positive North Atlantic Oscillation sees winds from the west dominate, with more frequent storms travelling across the Atlantic.”