Fears of Storm Debbie’s 100mph winds trigger cyclone warning across swathes of UK
The Hurricane and Storm Research Organization (Toro) said “one or two hurricanes” were expected in parts of the UK amid rampant Storm Debbie, which will arrive on Monday.
Tornadoes pose a risk amid Storm Debbie, with a warning put in place for large parts of England and the Republic of Ireland, experts warned tonight.
The UK’s Hurricane and Storm Research Organization (TORRO) has issued a severe weather alert for the cyclone and confirmed that wind gusts of up to 100mph are expected, with 20mm hail also expected.
A TORRO spokesperson said: “The rapidly deepening Atlantic depression, called Storm Debbie, will move into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland overnight. The frontal system will cross the region after midnight and into Monday morning (plus a lot of flooding). Very strong winds associated with the depression will affect parts of From UK and RoI).
“This forecast relates to the risk of one or two tornadoes associated with the passage of the system’s cold front. A wave of middle and upper dry air will spread over the front during the second half of tonight and into Monday morning, associated with a pronounced upper trough. The strong rise associated with this should cool levels “Medium enough to allow convection to develop – perhaps as a strongly forced line over the ROI in south-eastern Ireland, then a more refracted line over Wales/north England and pointing eastwards.”
Met Éireann – the Irish Meteorological Service – was officially named Storm Debi today, although UK meteorologists have been anticipating its arrival for some time. Both Met Éireann and the Met Office, the UK’s weather arm, say the storm will bring “very strong, potentially damaging winds and heavy rain” to both countries in the coming days.
The TORRO spokesperson added: “Strong shear, both deep layer and low level, will be present, enough to organize a few storms, possibly with low-topping supercells. Very high, low-level shear may allow a few tornadoes to develop. It appears that The highest probability is a line from SW RoI, through parts of mid/north Wales to the Midlands and East England, near the triple point of the system.However, the fund is somewhat larger, just to meet the needs for a development opportunity elsewhere.
“In addition, strong straight-line gusts, associated with convection (as well as with gradient flow from the storm, as mentioned above), are also possible. CG lightning (cloud-to-ground lightning) is also possible. Finally, it is not possible for “Ruling out a few more hail events, especially with stronger cells – perhaps close to extreme levels in one or two places.”
Maps show Storm Debbie will pass over parts of northern England and Wales tomorrow morning. A yellow wind warning remains in place for most of northern England and northern and western parts of Wales from 4am on Monday until 6pm.
The cities of Bangor and St Davids in Wales and Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool in England are under a weather warning, and are likely to see strong winds in the morning in particular. The Met Office says these will pose a potential life risk from flying debris.
