THE Met Office have named the latest storm of the season with 80mph gusts and heavy rain on the cards.
Storm Éowyn is forecast to bring strong winds to much of the UK on Friday and into Saturday, said meteorologists.
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Brits have already been urged to brace for “disruptive” and “unpleasant” conditions by the end of this week with fresh yellow alerts are issued.
Gusts of more than 80mph could cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings with a wind warning issued by the Met Office.
There could also be a danger to life caused by flying debris.
Met Office meteorologists confirmed a powerful jet stream is set to surge across the North Atlantic, bringing some of the strongest winds of the winter yet.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the weather agency, Chris Almond, told The Sun: “A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.
“Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
“The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.”
Chris added: “As the low develops over the Atlantic and interacts with the jet stream it will rapidly strengthen, a phenomenon called ‘explosive cyclogenesis’, where the central pressure of a low at latitudes in which the UK lies drops 24 millibars or more in 24 hours.
“This is forecast to happen on Thursday while the system is out over the Atlantic and it will be a mature feature by the time it reaches the UK.”
Explosive cyclogenesis, also known as a weather bomb, brings fierce gales that are powerful enough to “bring down trees and cause structural damage”, according to the Met Office.
The Met Office has since issued a yellow weather warning for wind from midnight on Thursday until 12pm on Saturday.
It covers the entirety of Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and western Scotland.
The weather bomb is set to be sparked by large amount of cold of air moving over parts of North America, in stark contrast with higher temperatures across the continent.
This creates deeper low pressure systems being able to develop, and strengthens the jet stream.
It is also expected to unleash heavy rainfall, with forecasters cautioning that the conditions could disrupt travel and outdoor activities.
Affected areas may experience localised flooding and delays, particularly in northern regions.
And potential snowfall in the north may also add to the disruption, according to the Met Office.
The forecaster said in their long range weather forecast: “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.”
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