Weather warning for gales and heavy rain

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the end of this week as severe gales and heavy rain are set to hit the region.

A yellow warning of wind is in place for Friday, from the early hours of the morning, valid until noon.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “There is the potential for gales, or local severe gales, to develop across much of England and Wales during the first half of Friday, before easing by early afternoon.

“A band of heavy rain will accompany the low pressure system, this pushing quickly east through the day.

The public are warned that there could be some disruption to travel and power supplies.

The Chief Forecaster said: “An area of low pressure has the potential to develop in the mid-Atlantic and then run quickly east northeast across the northern half of the UK during the first half of Friday.

“To the south of this low pressure centre, gales, or severe gales are likely to develop, with gusts in excess of 50 mph quite widely in the warning area.

“Gusts of 60-70 mph may develop in exposure, especially along Irish Sea and English Channel coasts.

“A period of heavy rain may also make for tricky driving conditions at times, especially across south Wales and southern England.”

"This is a complex development and details may yet change. Therefore this alert is likely to be updated in the coming days as confidence grows in track and timing of this system."

Forecast for tonight:
Rain will ease away eastwards during the first half of the night, with clearer and colder conditions following. However a strong westerly breeze will bring blustery showers by the morning Minimum Temperature 4C.

Tomorrow:
Windy with gales across exposed coasts. Blustery showers and sunny spells for most, these perhaps with thunder and hail, and turning wintry over the hills. Maximum Temperature 9C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Windy with showers, wintry over hills, Thursday. Severe gales likely overnight with rain, heavy at times, before clearing to sunny spells and brisk northerly winds Friday. Further wintry showers Saturday.