Second named storm in a week to bring high winds and rain

Winds of up to 80mph could batter parts of theUK as the second storm strong enough to be given a name sweeps in this week.

The Met Office said Storm Barney is set to bring gusts of up to 70mph inland and potentially 80mph along exposed coasts, particularly in Wales and through the BristolChannel on Tuesday.

A yellow “be aware” warning for strong winds has been issued for parts of Wales, southern, central and eastern England for Tuesday afternoonandinto the evening, as a series of low-pressure systems move in from the Atlantic bringing unsettled weather.

There is also a weather warning for rain in the next few days centred on the north west of England and Wales, coming hard on the heels of torrential rain which sawrivers burst their banks and localised flooding affecting roads, farmland and train services.

The Met Office is warning that given the alreadysaturated conditions, communities could see more floods from standing water or swollen rivers that could lead to travel disruption.

Storm Barney is the second storm to be named under the “name our storms“project by the Met Office and Met Eireann, which asked the public to suggest names.

Last week, Storm Abigail left more than 20,000 homes without power and schools closed in Shetland and the Western Isles as it swept across Britain.

The Highlands and Islandswereworsthitbygusts of 84mph, while the rest of the UK experienced thundery showers as a result of Britain’s first named storm.

Meanwhile, north-west Scotland is facing severe gales on Monday, with a weather warning forecasting gusts of 65-75mph.

The Met Office said the strongest winds will initially develop across the Western Isles and northwest coastbefore extending into theNorthern Isles during the evening, before they quickly ease on Tuesday.