Jet Stream gales of up to 250mph are set to blast the country and bring disruptive wind and rain – with forecasters warning of the possibility of a new named storm.
The Met Office warned the UK could be seeing the “strongest winds of the winter” so far as a result of a powerful Jet Stream developing above the North Atlantic this week, causing major weather changes. Ferocious gusts may be heading towards the UK and will likely bring more turbulent weather, the forecaster added.
In a new map, the weather agency showed the direction the wind will be taking as it sweeps across the UK on Friday, January 24. An update posted by the Met Office to their official account on X, formerly Twitter, said: “A powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far.
“This means a return to wet and windy conditions in the UK by Friday with some disruptive weather likely. Keep up to date with the forecast.”
The map shows both arctic and tropical air merging together and bringing a “strong temperature contrast fuelling a very powerful Jet Stream”. The agency added: “Jet Stream winds of up to 250mph” may be heading in the direction of the UK with low pressure rapidly deepening. Jet streams flow high overhead and cause changes in the wind and pressure at that level – impacting things nearer the surface, such as areas of high and low pressure.
Unsettled weather is expected next week too, with wet and windy conditions continuing to batter the country. A separate warning issued by BBC weather spoke of a “potentially stormy spell of weather” to hit the country on Friday, while a forecast on BBC Breakfast on January 19 predicted disruptive wind and rain.
The Met Office’s long range forecast from Friday, January 24 to Sunday, February 2, warned of the possibility of a new named storm brought on by strong gusts. It reads: “The change to much more unsettled conditions will begin on Friday as a deep area of low pressure, which is yet to develop, will be steered towards the UK on a powerful Jet Stream – fuelled by the recent cold spell over North America.”
“A wet and windy few days are likely, with some snow in the north for a time, and then a continuation of these periods of rain followed by showers, often accompanied by strong winds, looks likely for the rest of the month and the start of February.”
“There is the potential for weather warnings or even a named storm at some point. Temperatures at least should recover in most places, ending up a little above average, though admittedly not feeling like it at times.”
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.