Storms will batter England and the UK as winter begins for real this week.
Meteorologists are predicting torrential downpours, winds of up to 70 miles per hour and even snow in some areas. Flash flood warnings have been issued for several parts of Britain.
Bad weather is expected to hit the whole of Britain, but Wales and Scotland draw the shortest straw with snow flurries forecast over parts of the Scottish Highlands, Cumbria and the Peak District.
Severe weather warnings are in place in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and western counties of England, with snow and sleet forecast in some areas.
Heavy rain and strong gusts of wind are in store for the rest of the UK.
Horrible, miserable weather say the professionals
Rachel Vince, Meteogroup weather forecaster, said: “There is a deep low moving in from the north west bringing very strong and gusty winds across the whole of the UK.
“It is going to be a pretty horrible day,” she added, cheerily.
Byron Chalcraft, forecaster at the Met Office, said: “This, I’m afraid, is a sign of things to come.
“For quite a while now we are going to get these very unsettled conditions.
“It looks as though the next couple of weeks will be characterised by this weather, if not longer.
“We’re going to get strong to gale force winds and some heavy rain revolving around this system.”
Chalcraft too hammered home the gloom, saying: “It’s going to be thoroughly miserable.”
Horrible. Miserable. So there you have it. Don’t even try to be cheerful this week!
– Frankie Mullin
