UK STORM FORECAST: Britain to be SMASHED by ferocious 80MPH gales TODAY
A HUGE storm poised to rip into Britain threatens to unleash 80mph gales and torrential downpours causing a raft of flood alerts across the country.
UK set for blustery weekend
Scotland and northern England will be drenched by more than half a month’s rain this weekend as heavy showers sweep the region.
Much of the country faces a wet and windy day as a deep low-pressure system crosses the northern tip of Britain.
Storm-force gusts threaten to lash exposed regions with severe 70mph gales forecast widely across Scotland into Sunday.
Government officials have issued a raft of flood alerts around the country as river levels rise due to heavy rain and melting snow.
Hector would be the eighth storm system to hammer the UK this season although the Met Office has not yet issued a name.
Whitehall forecasters said winds will start to pick up across the north from the early hours of this morning through the day.
Spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: “Winds will mainly affect Scotland and the northern Isles although for much of the country Saturday will be blustery with outbreaks of rain.
“Severe gales will affect the far north with winds of between 60 to 70mph and 80mph in exposed spots.
“There is a risk of storm-force winds across Shetland particularly later in the day.
“The last of the winds will be passing through on Sunday and there will be some heavier and more persistent rainfall.”
Heavy downpours will dump more than three inches of rain in the far north by the end of the weekend, she added.
Ms Maxey said: “Rainfall will become more persistent by the end of Sunday and we expect to see 60 to 80mm of rain with 80mm [3.1ins] possible in some spots.”
Stormy conditions sweeping in from the Atlantic will bring a brief milder spell of weather to the UK this weekend.
Temperatures could touch 15C (59F) in the south on Sunday with most of the country nudging double figures.
However, only the southeast will enjoy sunshine and blue skies with the rest of Britain braced for wind and rain.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski added: “Despite the damp weather, temperatures will still climb above normal both Saturday and Sunday.
“Farther south, dry weather will win out for parts of the weekend, allowing people to get outside and enjoy the mild air.”
Torrential downpours over the coming days have put swathes of the country on flood alert with a raft of warnings in place this weekend.
Today's storm will drag a colossal sea swell across the tip of the UK putting coastal regions at risk of overtopping waves.
The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 27 flood alerts around much of England with one more serious flood warning in place in the northeast.
It warned river levels are rising with the River Ouse in York and the River Severn most at risk of spilling over into local communities.
A spokesman said: “Levels are high on the River Ouse following rainfall and melting snow in the upper catchments earlier this week.
Planes land and take off during heavy storm at Schiphol airport
“Land, roads, properties and riverside pathways could flood and there could be travel disruption.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued two flood alerts in Dumfries and Galloway and along the Scottish borders.
A spokesman said: “River levels across the region have peaked, but some remain high.
“Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property.”
Netweather forecaster Jo Farrow said wind and rain is likely through today.
She said: “A spell of wet and windy weather will sweep across the UK Friday night into Saturday.
“Western areas will see a good deal of rain, especially NW Scotland this weekend and it will become very windy over the far north of Scotland later on Saturday.
“Sunday looks mild with rain in the north and sunshine further south.”
AccuWeather forecaster Eric Leister said today's storm will drag a swathe of “unseasonable” warmth across Britain.
He said: “Following Storm Georgina, more unsettled weather is expected across the United Kingdom this weekend.
“A storm passing north of the UK from Saturday into Sunday will bring wet weather and gusty winds along with unseasonable warmth.
“The worst conditions are expected across Northern England and Scotland where spells of rain and gusty winds will persist throughout the weekend.”
Weather charts show the massive storm churning across the Atlantic before scouring the north of Scotland today.
Strong winds circling the deep area of low pressure will expect as far south as London, East Anglia and the West Country.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “It is going to be quite a blustery day on Saturday and we are a little bit concerned about there strength of the winds across the far north of Scotland.
“Close to this low pressure we could for a time get gusts of 70mph, perhaps a little bit more.
“It is something we need to watch, it is a windy day wherever you are on Saturday.”