The UK is bracing for yet another storm as the tail end of Hurricane Kirk heads across the Atlantic towards us.
Although it has weakened to become an ex-hurricane, even a weakened version of such a powerful weather system brings the potential for major disruption, which follows on the heels of flooding and Storm Boris.
The Met Office warned of an unsettled period this week, with ‘frequent bouts of wind and rain associated with areas of low pressure’.
It had been looking like the remnants of the the storm would drench us, but most recent forecasts have the centre of the storm tracking more towards northern France.
Sharing a video of the storm’s possible path, forecasters said: ‘There’s still some uncertainty in the track of #HurricaneKirk and how it may influence the weather across the UK mid to late next week.
‘Each green line on this clip shows a possible track as it becomes an ex-hurricane and moves towards northwest Europe.’
The lines all show the storm making a beeline for France, but such weather systems can be unpredictable.
Forecasters said: ‘There remains a threat of ex-Hurricane Kirk bringing very wet and windy conditions to some parts of the UK, especially the south.
‘Scotland and Northern Ireland are more likely to turn colder with showers from Wednesday, the colder weather (perhaps some snow on Scottish mountains) then gradually working its way south by the end of the week.
‘Perhaps turning a little more settled for some areas as we head into next weekend, although detail by this stage is very low confidence.’
Hurricane Kirk has been spinning in the North Atlantic, and is now coming east towards us having caused chaos in the tropics.
With winds of 145mph it has been a major category 4 storm, but there are currently no Met Office weather warnings in place for the UK.
It comes as a separate warning for tornadoes was issued for the south of the UK, covering regions from Devon to East Anglia and the southern Midlands.
People living in these areas could see gusty winds of up to 50mph, large hailstones, occasional lightning and isolated tornadoes, the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) said in the alert lasting until midnight last night.
Chris Bulmer, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said of Kirk: ‘There remains much detail to work out on the exact track and timing of the system.
‘Across the UK, parts of England and Wales look to have the greatest risk of heavy rain and strong winds during Wednesday and Thursday.
‘However, a more southward track of this system, which is equally plausible at this stage, would see the most disruptive conditions impact France.’
Strong winds and heavy rainfall could be on the cards during a period that is set to be ‘mostly unsettled,’ according to the forecaster.
In a long range forecast from October 21, the Met Office said: ‘A continuation of low pressure systems tracking in from the Atlantic is the most likely scenario for the rest of October.
‘This means wet and windy weather at times, especially across England and Wales, but with a suggestion that Scotland and Northern Ireland may be more likely to see longer breaks in the weather, and more in the way of drier spells.’
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