26/10/2004

UK set to face spell of severe weather

Forecasters have issued a weather warning ahead of the arrival of severe gales and heavy rain to the western UK.

The Met Office is forecasting that an intense depression to move near to the southwest of England on Wednesday, bringing very strong winds to southern and western parts and sweeping rain across the whole of the British Isles.

The areas most effected will be: South West Scotland, Northern Ireland, North West England, The Midlands, Wales, South West England, Central Southern England, South East England and East Anglia and Lincolnshire.

Winds will be strongest over parts of Wales and Southwest England, and gusts of 70 to 80 mph possible. The southeast coast of Northern Ireland is also at risk from 70 mph gusts. Trees may be damaged or brought down and some disruption to road, rail and sea transport is possible.

According to forecasters, the maximum gusts are expected to occur in Southwest England, south and southwest Wales later on Wednesday, transferring northwest into the Irish Sea during Wednesday night.

Local flooding is also likely as outbreaks of rain sweep north into areas already affected by recent flooding events, particularly Wales and the Midlands, but the southwest of England will also be at risk.

Check for the latest updates at Met Office's UK weather warnings website.

(SP/GMCG)

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