Storm Darragh to batter UK amid weather warnings for rain and 80mph winds

A waves crashing over a sea defence promenade during a storm

Simon King

Lead Weather Presenter

17 minutes ago

Storm Darragh is set to bring damaging winds to parts of the UK on Saturday.

Northern Ireland and western parts of England and Wales could see gusts of up to 80mph (129km/h) from Darragh, which was named by the Met Office on Thursday.

Amber and yellow severe weather warnings have been issued with power cuts, building damage and transport disruption likely.

While heavy rain is also forecast, there is unlikely to be as much as the rainfall and flooding seen with Storm Bert.

The fourth named storm of the season, Darragh comes only weeks after Storms Bert and Conall caused disruption at the end of November.

Two warning maps: amber warning for wind, Saturday 3am to 9pm, for Northern Ireland and western England and Wales; yellow warning for wind and rain, Friday 3pm to Sunday 6am, for Northern Ireland, Wales and a large swath of central England

The Met Office warns of injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties

Late on Friday, a developing area of low pressure will start to bring heavy rain and strengthening winds across western parts of the UK.

As this develops further into Saturday, this becomes Storm Darragh with its centre crossing northern England.

An amber severe weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for strong winds in Northern Ireland and western areas of England and Wales from 3am to 9pm on Saturday.

Gusts will be around 70-80mph (113-129km/h), especially around coastal areas. Further inland, gusts will be 60-70mph (96-113km/h).

These wind gusts have the potential to damage buildings and will bring travel disruption, especially to ferry services in the Irish Sea.

Met Office warnings

There is a larger yellow Met Office warning across all parts of England and Wales for wind and rain valid from 3pm on Friday through to 6am on Sunday when Darragh will have cleared into the North Sea.

Gusts will widely be around 40-50mph (64-80km/h) across England and Wales which could lead to some transport disruption on Saturday.

Risk of some flooding

Those affected by severe flooding after Storm Bert may be concerned by another storm and heavy rain.

Wjile the rainfall totals associated with Storm Darragh will not be as high, around 2-3in (50-70mm) or rain is expected in north-west Wales by Saturday evening, and the Met Office suggests this is the area most at risk of flooding impacts.

Otherwise, more widely, rainfall totals will be up to an inch (25mm).

A yellow Met Office warning is valid from 3pm on Friday to 6am on Sunday for most of England and Wales as there could be localised flooding and disruption on some roads.

There will also be some heavy snow for a time over the higher ground of Scotland as Storm Darragh moves through.