Met Office names Storm Darragh as extreme weather heads for UK this weekend – with amber warning issued

An amber warning for wind has been issued for parts of the UK as Storm Darragh is expected to arrive late on Friday.

Forecasters said it was expected to bring “very strong winds and heavy rain” through the weekend, including gusts of up to 80mph around coasts.

The Met Office said “potentially damaging” winds of 60 to 70mph are likely inland when the amber warning comes into force between 3am and 9pm on Saturday.

Flooding could be a risk for some areas, especially where rain falls on already saturated ground following Storms Bert and Conall.

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The warning area covers the west coast of the UK from South Ayrshire in Scotland down to Cornwall, and the whole of Northern Ireland.

Storm Darragh will bring the risk of power cuts, damage to buildings, travel disruption and a danger of injury from large waves.

Flooding risk returns on Thursday

There are also multiple yellow weather warnings in place between Thursday and Sunday covering large parts of the UK at different times.

Forecasters are predicting heavy rain during Thursday afternoon – between 2pm and 6pm – where 20 to 30mm (0.78-1.18in) is “likely to fall in just a few hours”.

The area of the yellow warning begins in mid-Wales and covers northwest England, including Liverpool and Manchester – and parts of Yorkshire.

There is the risk of surface water – and potentially some flooding and travel disruption – along with gusty winds.

Another yellow warning has been issued, from 3pm on Thursday until 3am on Friday, for strong and gusty winds, perhaps as much as 60 to 70mph along exposed coasts, especially through the North Channel and Irish Sea.

It covers a large area of the UK, including Northern Ireland, Wales, and western Scotland, as well as parts of England from the South West to the North West, also encompassing an area north of London.

Winds could hit 80mph

Storm Darragh, named by the UK Met Office, will bring heavy rain and strong winds – beginning late on Friday into Saturday morning.

“The winds will be strongest in the West at first, transferring eastwards later, with 80mph gusts likely on the coasts, with 70mph gusts possible inland,” said Sky News weather producer Chris England.

An amber warning – the second highest alert level – is issued when disruption is “more likely and more widespread”, with the Met Office urging people to “take action to protect yourself and your property”.

The Irish weather service has issued similar amber warnings for all western counties along with Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow in the southeast of Ireland.

Those warnings apply from 10pm on Friday evening and continue until 9am on Saturday.

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Storm Darragh is also connected to a series of yellow warnings for rain and wind starting on Friday afternoon.

The warnings for rain apply from 3pm on Friday until midday on Saturday covering all of Northern Ireland, a large part of Wales and an area of Scotland as far north as Aberdeen.

Rainfall of 20 to 30mm (0.78-1.18in) is widely expected and as much as 60mm (2.36in) over the higher ground, which carries the risk of local flooding and transport disruption.

Another yellow warning for wind also applies across the UK – apart from an area of Scotland north of Glasgow – from 3pm on Friday until 6am on Sunday. Gusts could vary from 40mph inland to 80mph around coasts.

Drivers should be prepared

Dale Hipkiss, duty manager at National Highways, said: “If weather conditions become challenging, adjust your driving behaviour to manage the conditions as safely as possible.

“It’s also a good idea for drivers to check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out to reduce the risk of breakdowns.”