London weather: Capital braces for near-50mph gusts as 'weather bomb' hits UK
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London will see winds of nearly 50mph and heavy rain later this week as a “weather bomb” hits the UK. The capital will see gusts of up to 46mph and heavy rain on Friday after the arrival of “unsettled conditions” in what forecasters have dubbed a “weather bomb”.
A "weather bomb" occurs when central pressure inside of a larger low pressure system falls at a rapid rate over 24 hours, creating a peak of violent winds that are strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage, according to the Met Office.
Other parts of the country could see gusts of more than 80mph which may cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings. A yellow wind warning has been issued by the Met Office for Friday and Saturday for parts of Scotland and the whole of Northern Ireland, with residents being warned of a potential danger to life due to flying debris.
While the first half of the week will be "benign" with grey, cloudy weather and outbreaks of rain, conditions are expected to turn much more unsettled in London on Friday. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: "A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.
"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. "We have issued a yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings.".
