Issued: 0530hrs Tuesday 7th December 2021
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Damaging winds, heavy rain and a risk of flooding

Storm Barra is now hitting the country. The deep area of low pressure is heading into Ireland today, pushing an area of severe gales eastwards and bringing gusts of 70 to 80mph, or even more in some places. These winds are strong enough to cause some damage. Rain will also be a feature of todays weather, mostly in the west this morning.

This afternoon sees the strongest of the winds across Ireland, then moving into Wales, western England and Scotland. The rain should clear east, but longering in southern Scotland and northern England it may turn to snow on hills. Western and northern arts of Ireland could see gusts of 90mph.

Staying windy overnight, with the strongest winds in Wales, the Midlands, central and southern Ireland. Here we could see gusts over 80mph and these may cause some damage to trees and buildings. More heavy rai in Ireland and southern Scotland, drifting in Wales and western England too. This could cause local flooding.Batten down the hatches!

Simon
Email me at simon.keeling@weatheronline.co.uk