UK weather: 'Storm Abigail' to bring 70mph winds, giant waves and snow
Britain is set to be hammered by Storm Abigail with gusts of 70mph and possible snow ruining fireworks celebrations this weekend.
A strong jet stream sweeping in from the Atlantic is bringing the harsh conditions, although the temperatures will stay relatively mild.
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The Daily Telegraph reports that the storm could be bad enough to be named.
The Met Office last month announced a project to allow the public name storms likely to affect the British Isles, and Storm Abigail is next on the list.
The Mirror reports that the Met Office says it is currently too early to tell if it will be bad enough to name, with a spokesperson saying: "Windy weather is expected over the next week. But it's too early to say about warnings or naming storms."
Richard Chapman, spokesman at The Weather Channel, told Aol Travel: "Mild, wet and windy – that's the jetstream! It's to the Atlantic that we need to look for our weather during the coming week. The jet stream is set to strengthen and this will be bringing strong winds, cloud and rain to all parts of the UK and Ireland. However conditions are set to stay very mild."
Leon Brown, meteorologist at The Weather Channel, echoed the statements, telling Aol Travel: The jet stream will fire up on most cylinders by Friday and through the weekend to next week with speeds in excess of 70mph at times over the UK.
See aol weather for more forecasts.
"This will bring some fast moving weather systems off the Atlantic and at times windy weather.
"There's some wet spells ahead and an increasing flood risk by Sunday night and on Monday over the north and west.
"The windiest spell will be Sunday night over the north and then across much of the UK on Monday.
"There'll be gales around coasts and also some large waves reaching south west coasts with a long fetch of strong to gale-force winds over the mid-Atlantic. Waves in excess of five metres are likely.
"Expect ferry delays and some bridge restrictions for high-sided vehicles. We will see gusts of 40mph to 50mph and could see over 60mph even up to 70mph in exposed coastal and hill top locations.
"West Scotland, then Cumbria and north west Wales are likely to receive more than 50mm of rain late on Sunday into Monday with a growing flood risk by Monday, exacerbated by leaves blocking drains and ditches."
