UK weather: Storm Gerrit named by Met Office as Britain to be battered with gales, rain and snow

Drivers have been warned of potentially hazardous conditions on their way home from the Christmas holidays as the UK braces for Storm Gerrit.

The storm will bring strong winds and heavy rain to many parts of the UK on Wednesday, with wintry hazards also likely, forecasters warned.

Yellow wind and rain warnings are in place across much of the UK.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the storm was named as a warning to people coming home after the Christmas holidays.

He said: “Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that.”

A storm is named when it is deemed to have the potential to cause medium or high impacts on the UK and/or Ireland.

The Met Office and Met Eireann launched the scheme in 2015 to name storms as part of efforts to raise awareness of extreme weather events.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said wet and windy weather will cover “pretty much the whole of the UK”, with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland.

A yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of Scotland on Wednesday.

“There are wind warnings out for the south of England, across the English Channel coast,” Mr Partridge added.

“But we also have wind warnings in force for parts of western Wales, north-west England, Northern Ireland, northern Scotland and the Northern Isles.”

He said only the central section of the UK does not have a wind warning.

Drivers have been warned of potentially hazardous conditions on their way home from the Christmas holidays as the UK braces for Storm Gerrit.

The storm will bring strong winds and heavy rain to many parts of the UK on Wednesday, with wintry hazards also likely, forecasters warned.

Yellow wind and rain warnings are in place across much of the UK.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the storm was named as a warning to people coming home after the Christmas holidays.

He said: “Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that.”

Wind warning areas can expect gusts of 50-60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts.

“In terms of rain, we have rain warnings out for the whole of Northern Ireland, western Wales, north-west England, and then there’s a combined sort of rain and snow warning for Scotland,” Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said.

Rain in the warning areas is forecast to be between 40-60mm, with the potential for 70-90mm in the western hills of Wales and the western side of the Pennines.

Anywhere above 200 metres in Scotland and the Northern Isles is likely to see some snow, he added.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the storm was named as a warning to people coming home from the Christmas holidays.

He said: “Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that.”

He said wet and windy weather will cover “pretty much the whole of the UK”, with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland.

Ninety-eight flood alerts are in place ahead of Storm Gerrit’s arrival.

The alerts – which mean flooding is “possible” – cover several regions of England.

One more serious flood warning – meaning flooding is “likely” – is in place for a part of the River Upper River Hull.

A status orange rain warning has been issued for the south west of Ireland as the island braces for the arrival of Storm Gerrit.

The warning covering Kerry and west Cork comes into effect at 8pm on Tuesday and will be in place throughout Wednesday, lifting at midnight.

Met Eireann said very heavy rain is expected overnight on Tuesday with intense heavy showers on Wednesday.

“Localised flooding is possible,” said the forecaster.

A status yellow warning for wind and rain will be in operation for the rest of the country over the same time period.

Heavy rainfall is forecast overnight on Tuesday with heavy showers on Wednesday.

Met Eireann again warned of the potential for localised flooding for those areas covered by the yellow warning.

Passengers on flights to and from Orkney and Shetland have been offered the chance to change their flights on Wednesday ahead of potential disruption due to Storm Gerrit.

“All flights to/from Kirkwall and Sumburgh from 12pm In view of the yellow weather warning forecast for Wednesday 27th December, which has now been upgraded to a storm category and the potential for travel disruption,” said Loganair.

“We are offering customers the opportunity to adjust travel plans without charge. We plan to fly all our scheduled services, and we have standby aircraft and crews in place to help recover any disrupted services as soon as reasonably possible once weather conditions permit.”