Severe storm Ãowyn is set to hit Wales this Friday, bringing with it dangerously high winds and unsettled weather conditions. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind, predicting wind speeds of up to 80mph in some areas of Wales. Coastal regions are expected to bear the brunt of the storm’s force, with inland areas experiencing winds of around 60mph. The storm is expected to pass close to or across the northwest of the UK on Friday before moving northeast on Saturday.
The first 24-hour warning issued by the Met Office covers a large part of north and west coastal areas, beginning at midnight on Thursday, January 23. Storm Ãowyn is expected to bring very strong winds, starting southeasterly before turning westerly, with peak gusts of 50-60mph inland, 60-70mph along coasts and hills, and possibly reaching up to 80mph in exposed parts of western Scotland. The wind strength is anticipated to ease across southern areas later on Friday.
In the early hours of Friday morning, winds are projected to peak in various parts of Wales. Coastal town St David’s will experience speeds of 76mph, while Holyhead will see wind speeds reaching 72mph at 3am. As morning approaches, the winds will intensify, with Holyhead expecting speeds of 81mph at 6am. Inland areas like Merthyr Tydfil will experience speeds of 60mph, while coastal locations such as Swansea and Pembroke will see speeds ranging from 63mph to 69mph.
By 9am, the winds are expected to start calming down, with Holyhead still experiencing speeds of around 79mph, St David’s at 66mph, and Caernarfon at 72mph. Inland areas like Cardiff will see speeds around 49mph, with Builth Wells at 57mph and Carmarthen at 53mph. As midday approaches, wind speeds are set to decrease further, with Cardiff’s speeds dropping to 44mph, while Holyhead continues to face strong winds at 74mph.
Heading into the afternoon, wind speeds are expected to fall even more, with south Wales experiencing inland speeds ranging from 37-38mph. By 6pm, most areas will see a decrease in wind speeds, although Holyhead will still face gusts of around 56mph. As evening progresses towards 9pm, wind speeds continue to drop, with Cardiff experiencing the lowest speeds at 21mph. Along the west coast, speeds will range between 36mph in Pembroke and 38mph in St David’s, while Holyhead will maintain higher speeds at 48mph.
By midnight, as the weather warning ends, Holyhead is predicted to still have the highest wind speeds at 39mph, while Llandovery will see the lowest speeds at 15mph. Swansea and Cardiff are expected to have wind speeds of 20mph and 17mph, respectively. Residents are advised to stay updated on the latest weather alerts and take necessary precautions to stay safe during Storm Ãowyn.