Storm Darragh to bring deadly 90mph winds, severe snow and extreme rain

The Met Office have issued a rare red ‘danger to life’ warning over Storm Darragh, which is set to hit British shores this afternoon.

The forecaster has put the warning in place between 3am and 11am tomorrow in areas covering west and south Wales across the Bristol Channel into England.

Red weather warnings are the most serious that the Met Office issue, with them only being put in place if meteorologists believe that dangerous, potentially life-threatening weather is imminent.

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Winds of up to 80mph were initially expected, but the Met Office now fear that the UK could be set to see wind speeds reaching 90mph.

Such severe weather could cause falling trees and flying debris, as well as large waves and power cuts. Transport will too be affected.

Storm Darragh is the UK’s fourth major storm this season, and is expected to last for up to four days.

The storm is expected to hit Ireland this afternoon before crossing over to Britain, according to the Met Office, which named it today.

As much as 60mm of rain could fall in some places, resulting in 60 flood warnings being put in place.

All of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be under a warning from this afternoon until early Sunday morning.

The Met Office issued an advisory reading: ‘A deep low may cross England and Wales from Friday afternoon.

‘Around 15-25mm of rain may fall quite widely, more particularly across central, northern and western parts of England and Wales, with exposed higher ground in the north and west (particularly parts of Wales, which are at greatest risk of seeing flooding impacts) perhaps locally seeing closer to 50-70mm.’

Those under severe weather warnings have been urged to protect their property by checking for loose items and securing bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds and fences.

Parts of the UK were battered by extreme weather last week after Storm Bert and then Storm Conall brought heavy rain and flooding.

Though rainy and windy weather is coming in the next few days, there is a chance of snow later this month.

As we head towards Christmas, many will of course be ‘dreaming of a white Christmas’.

The Met website notes: ‘Towards mid-December, there are signs that the weather will become less settled again, with west or northwesterly types preferred.

‘These will bring some wetter and windier spells with a risk of snow, especially across northern hills.

‘These conditions may prevail into December, although drier, more settled spells may also affect the UK at times, again these probably more likely towards the south.’

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