The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain and wind across the UK for Thursday as humid summer air mixes with the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto. Up to 6 inches (150mm) of rain and strong winds reaching 60mph could impact some areas over a 24-hour period, potentially leading to flooding, dangerous coastal conditions, and power outages, according to the Met Office.
The warnings include a yellow alert for rain for the western half of Scotland, covering regions such as the Highlands, southwest Scotland, and Strathclyde from 11am on Wednesday to 8am on Thursday. Separate yellow warnings for wind have been issued for northern Wales and northern England, including areas like Cumbria and Northumberland, spanning from 1am to 9am on Thursday.
While Hurricane Ernesto had weakened to a tropical storm after affecting Puerto Rico and Bermuda, its influence is contributing to the wet and windy weather expected in parts of the UK. Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon highlighted potential travel disruptions and hazardous coastal conditions, with beach materials possibly being thrown onto seafronts.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued flood alerts for various regions, with the Environment Agency issuing flood warnings in locations like Hornsea and the Wye Estuary. The unsettled weather conditions are expected to continue into the bank holiday weekend, with showers likely in some areas and temperatures slightly below average, according to the Met Office.
In preparation for the severe weather, ferry services on the Scottish west coast have been disrupted, and road diversions have been implemented in some areas for safety. Despite the challenges posed by the combination of summer air and the tropical storm influence, the Met Office is closely monitoring the situation and providing updates to ensure public safety.