Storm BERT to arrive in the UK and Ireland

More disruptive weather is in store for many parts of the UK and Ireland after a wintry week with a flurry of ice, snow and freezing temperatures.

Storm BERT has been named by the Irish Met Éireann weather service on Thursday, a large storm system expected to bring a fresh wave of rain, heavy snow and gales this weekend before bringing back much milder air from the subtropical Atlantic later on.

Current forecasts suggest BERT could bring several hours of heavy snow to Northern England and many parts of Scotland early on Saturday. This, combined with strong winds could cause widespread disruption on many roads and railways and even some power cuts before temperatures rise in the afternoon and a thaw sets in.

Meanwhile, western and southern parts of the UK as well as most of Ireland will quickly see a transition to much milder, but also much wetter conditions, with frequent and often heavy rain as well as coastal gales.

A few areas in Wales and the Southwest of England are likely to see rainfall amounts over 100mm which may in turn lead to some flooding issues as well. The unsettled and windy weather is set to continue on Sunday.