(Image: Met Office)
Storm Ashley set to batter UK this weekend in Met Office 'weather bomb' as 80mph winds forecast
by Ashlie Blakey · Manchester Evening NewsStorm Ashley is set to batter the UK this weekend - with winds of up to 80mph forecast in some areas.
The storm has been officially named by Ireland's Met Éireann ahead of 'damaging winds' and heavy showers forecast for this Sunday. Storm Ashley, the first named storm of the 2024/25 season, will develop rapidly in the Atlantic on Saturday night before sweeping over to the UK.
The Met Office has issued a yellow wind weather warning from 3am on Sunday to 12pm on Monday. Areas in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the north of England are affected.
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Though the 'damaging winds' and stormy conditions brought by the 'weather bomb' will likely affect other areas too. Forecasters have warned of travel disruption, power cuts and a small chance of injuries and danger to life when the weather alert is active, North Wales Live reports.
On the stormy conditions on Sunday, Tony Wisson, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "This low-pressure system is not expected to develop until Friday near the coast of Canada, so at this stage there is still a lot of uncertainty about the strength and track of this system as it interacts with the jet stream over the weekend. It’s likely that parts of Ireland will see impacts from this before the UK though.
(Image: Met Office)
"At present, a windy period is expected across the whole of the UK on Sunday and into Monday, but across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northwest England and North West Wales, there is an increased chance of some disruption. Initially a period of strong south to southeasterly winds will likely develop through Sunday morning, with gusts of 50-60mph possible in some inland areas, especially Northern Ireland and western Scotland, and perhaps up to 60-70mph along exposed coasts and hills.
"Winds will then likely turn southwesterly, with a period of especially strong winds possible during Sunday afternoon and evening in western Scotland, where gusts could potentially reach 70-80mph in exposed areas, and more generally 55-65mph in other parts of the warning area. These strong winds in conjunction with high spring tides, may cause some disruption.
"It’s likely that Sunday’s wind warning will be updated and refined as confidence increases, and more warnings for the rainfall that is expected is likely. It is therefore important people stay up to date with the latest forecast."
A Met Office graphic shows the low pressure area moving across the Atlantic as it interacts with jet stream winds approaching 200mph. As the weather system crosses the jet stream it undergoes a rapid intensification, which could bring 'damaging winds' to UK shores.
In the Met Office's latest 'deep dive' forecast, meteorologist Alex Deakin explained that this process is called 'explosive cyclogensis' and can result in what is known as a ;'weather bomb'. The Met Office describes a weather bomb as 'a low pressure system whose central pressure falls 24 millibars in 24 hours in a process known as explosive cyclogenesis'.