UK weather: Storm Ciaran to bring ‘nasty’ weather with 80mph gusts and up to 60mm of rain as amber warning issued

The UK is set for heavy downpours this week as amber alerts have been issued for Storm Ciaran, which is set to bring 80mph winds and up to 60mm of rain.

The worst of the weather is likely to hit the south coast of England, much of Wales and parts of Northern Ireland on Monday, the Met Office said.

Amber warnings have now been issued by the Met Office in Northern Ireland. In effect from 9pm today to 9am on Tuesday, the forecasters said: “Further rain will affect Northern Ireland during Monday evening and overnight, becoming heavy and persistent in the east.

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“25-50 mm of rain falling widely and as much as 75 to 100 mm over hills, this falling on already saturated ground. The rain will ease from the south through Tuesday morning.”

Marco Petagna, a Met Office meteorologist, ­said that gusts of 80mph are possible along the south coast of England due to a “nasty storm”.

Mr Petagna added that 20 to 25mm of rain was expected across southern and western areas, but this could rise to 40 to 60mm over higher ground.

“We’ve had various warnings in force across the UK over the last few days and there are plenty more being issued for the next couple of days,” he said.

“The main focus in the next day or two is towards the east of Scotland and northeast England where there is a yellow rain warning until 3am.

“There will be persistent rain up there and then the focus for heavy showers will be across parts of southern and southeastern England and south Wales as well parts of Northern Ireland with some heavy and sudden showers as well.”

Mr Petagna said that Tuesday – Halloween – was expected to be still unsettled but quieter before heavy winds and longer spells of rain develop on Wednesday night into Thursday as Storm Ciaran arrives.

The weather is expected to worsen as the week progresses, with rain warnings in place until Thursday, and a “deep area of low pressure” set to arrive the same day.

The forecaster advised that Ciaran could lead to disruption on roads and public transport while already flood-affected areas following Storm Babet could get worse.

The Environment Agency has also issued 72 flood warnings from Wednesday.

Read more: Why Storm Babet brought so much rain

Over the weekend, areas in Sussex were hit by flooding. The Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings was evacuated on Saturday, with social media posts showing deep floodwater coming through the entrance.

On Sunday, a caravan park in Bognor Regis was also underwater with the town’s Tesco supermarket car park flooded.

High winds in Littlehampton and Wick on Saturday night have been categorised as a T4 tornado by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation after a roof was blown off a house.

The warnings arrive in the aftermath of Storm Babet, which flooded large parts of the UK and left some homes and businesses underwater. Seven people are known to have died, including three in Scotland.