Met Office confirm Storm Eowyn will hit UK this weekend unleashing 80mph winds

Storm Éowyn is poised to unleash strong winds with gusts of up to 80mph across much of the UK this weekend. A deep area of low pressure forming over the Atlantic is expected to approach the UK later this week, bringing disruptive weather conditions, according to the Met Office.

The latest named storm is anticipated to strike the UK from Friday into Saturday, as per the weather agency's forecasts.

Storm Éowyn marks the fifth named storm of the season and the first one for 2025. The previous named storm, Storm Darragh, impacted the UK on December 6, leading to the issuance of a rare red weather warning.

In preparation for Storm Éowyn's arrival, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds across Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The UK is bracing for what could be the "strongest winds of the winter so far" and some "potentially disruptive weather" with "severe gales" expected in the west.

Described as a 'powerful' weather system, or a 'weather bomb', it is set to bring heavy rainfall and robust winds to the northwest of the UK, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Almond commented: "Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week."

The United States is currently gripped by intense cold weather conditions, which have triggered significant alterations in the climate across North America. According to meteorological insights, an extremely cold air mass sited above North America is causing a pronounced temperature dichotomy over the continent.

This stark variation is anticipated to amplify the jet stream, with forecasts predicting blistering jet stream winds reaching speeds of up to 250mph, which will consequently generate deep low pressure over the UK. Weather expert Mr Almond has shed light on this development, explaining: "As the low develops over the Atlantic and interacts with the jet stream it will rapidly strengthen, a phenomenon called 'explosive cyclogenesis', where the central pressure of a low at latitudes in which the UK lies drops 24 millibars or more in 24 hours. This is forecast to happen on Thursday while the system is out over the Atlantic and it will be a mature feature by the time it reaches the UK."

He added that when a low pressure system undergoes such powerful cyclogenesis, it becomes known as a 'weather bomb' - extreme meteorological events capable of delivering winds that soar momentarily and possess enough force to take down trees and cause structural harm; the Met Office further confirms these potential impacts.

The west of Scotland and Northern Ireland are under a yellow weather warning for wind, set to be active from midnight on Friday until midday on Saturday, which will need locals to exercise caution.

The meteorological alarm bells are ringing as the weather warning declares: "A deep area of low pressure is expected to pass close to or across the northwest of the UK on Friday and Saturday. It will bring a spell of very strong southeasterly to southwesterly winds with gusts reaching 50 to 60mph inland and 70 to 80mph along coasts (and perhaps higher than this in a few locations). The wind strength will gradually ease through Saturday from the south."