UK weather forecast: Storm Caroline warning of 'danger to life' as Met Office upgrades alert to amber

New weather warnings: Large waves during Storm Ophelia
Rebecca Naden/Reuters
Francesca Gillett6 December 2017

Weather experts have warned of a potential “danger to life” when Storm Caroline batters parts of the UK later this week.

The Atlantic storm is set to hit Scotland on Thursday morning with strong winds expected to reach speeds of 90 mph alongside a good chance of power cuts and travel chaos.

On Wednesday, the Met Office upgraded their weather warning to amber, the second most severe, as winds strengthened across Britain.

Forecasters warned of gusts of up to 80 mph across northern Scotland, adding: “Flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life.”

A separate yellow weather alert has been issued ahead of an Arctic blast bringing bitterly cold temperatures to much of the UK.

Waves crash into the seafront in Porthleven Cornwall as Storm Brian hits the UK
PA

On Friday, as storm Caroline passes over the UK, a rush of air from the Arctic will sweep in, bringing an end to this week’s milder weather.

In London, temperatures are set to plunge by nearly 10C overnight, from 13C on Thursday to 4C on Friday.

Ice and snow showers are forecast for Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern and western England on Friday and Saturday, with up to five centimetres of snow expected to fall “fairly widely”. Other places could see up to 20 cm.

Forecasters said: “[There may be] possible travel delays on the roads stranding some vehicles and passengers with possible delays and cancellations to rail and air travel.”

They warned of “some injuries from slips and falls on icy and snowy surfaces”, adding: “Some rural communities could be cut off and power supplies interrupted”.

UK Snow November 2017 - In pictures

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Storm Caroline is the UK’s third named storm of the current season, following Aileen in mid-September and Brian in October.

This season has already proved more active than 2016. By this time last year, the UK had only seen one named storm, Angus.

On Wednesday, an oil rig in the North Sea was evacuated amid fears of huge waves as Caroline barrelled towards the UK.

The first snow of winter fell in the capital last week with short and light flurries seen in Holborn and Lothbury last Thursday morning.

It came amid a cold snap which gripped Britain as temperatures plunged to -10C in Scotland and -5C in other parts of the country.

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