The Met Office has shared its assessment on the potential arrival of the first named storm of the year and the likelihood of snow this upcoming weekend.
As the new storm season begins, names like Bram and Wubbo have been assigned, paying tribute to Bram Stoker and Wubbo Ockels. Storm Amy is first on the list, but the timing of its appearance and its expected impact remain uncertain. While snow is forecasted for some regions this weekend, it is believed to be unrelated to Storm Amy.
A deepening low-pressure system forming over the North Atlantic has led to speculation among meteorologists about the potential storm development in the upcoming days, hinting at a period of unsettled weather across the country leading up to the weekend. The Met Office suggests that Storm Amy and snow are unlikely occurrences, contrasting with another forecast by Netweather.
Weather conditions are anticipated to become wetter and windier starting today, with talks of the potential first storm of the season. The outlook includes heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds expected to impact the UK over the weekend, although the precise timing of Storm Amy’s arrival remains uncertain.
Deputy chief meteorologist Tom Crabtree mentioned the monitoring of a deepening low-pressure system over the North Atlantic that could bring impactful weather to the UK, likely on Sunday and Monday. The forecast hints at widespread heavy rain and strong winds, predominantly affecting the northern regions.
Continuous monitoring of various computer models will guide future forecasts and updates as the situation evolves. The Met Office’s extended forecast does not include snow predictions despite mentioning a significant temperature drop.
Recent data from the Environment Agency indicates that the UK experienced its wettest week in seven months, with regions like the North West, South East, and South West receiving substantial rainfall between August 27 and September 2.
Storms in the UK are named collaboratively with Met Éireann and KNMI, with names suggested by the public and selected through votes. Letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are excluded from storm names to maintain consistency with the US National Hurricane Centre’s naming convention.
Only storms expected to cause medium to high damage are given names, with wind being the primary factor in classification, though rain and snow also play a role. Naming storms facilitates effective communication of warnings to the public.
