No sooner than has the list of storm names for 2018/2019 been released then the first named storm of the season arrives across Britain and Ireland. Storm Ali sweeps across northern regions today bringing heavy rain and severe gales with it meaning that there is a risk of some disruptive weather from this system.
Ali is expected to track north-eastwards close to north-western parts of Ireland and Scotland today with the strongest winds on its southern flank. Gales and severe gales are already affecting parts of Ireland this morning and as we go through the day those strongest winds will transfer north-eastwards to affect Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England. Severe gales gusting up to 80 MPH are expected in exposed spots bringing the risk of some damage and disruption, and with gusts inland potentially reaching 70-75 MPH then there is some concern, particularly with many trees still in full leaf. In addition to the wind, outbreaks of heavy rain will affecting northern and western regions today before clearing to more showery conditions later. Meanwhile, the further south and east that you come the less disturbed the weather will be although it will be a windy day everywhere. Some sunny spells are likely, especially towards the southeast, but a band of showery rain will push east during the afternoon. With all this weather activity temperatures today will be rather academic, but it will again be rather warm towards the south and east.
Conditions turn somewhat quieter tonight as the severe gales soon clear away to the east. Many areas will see a drier interlude but further rain will move in from the southwest later with showers continuing towards the northwest. Thursday is then set to be a wet day across some central and western regions of the country with some heavy and persistent rain developing, but the south and southeast will stay mainly dry for much of the time whilst the north and northwest will see a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers.
METEOROLOGIST: BARBER
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