Issued: 0530hrs Sunday 27th January 2019
Duty forecaster: Claire Darbinyan

Low pressure to the east and higher pressure to the west brings a bitterly cold, strong northerly wind to the UK and Ireland on Sunday

Good morning,

Sunday will start cold and cloudy for much of the UK and Ireland with wintry showers and snow for northern and western parts of Ireland and Scotland and over higher ground in England and Wales. Light rain across much of England and Wales at lower levels first thing. Winds will be strong with gale to severe gale force winds for coastal areas. Gusts are locally expected to be in excess of 60mph in the southwest during Sunday morning.

As the day progresses rain will clear to the southeast though wintry showers will follow for many areas, particularly those exposed to the northerly wind. Some central and southern areas could see some good sunny spells develop. Wind speeds will ease slightly for western areas through the afternoon but will stay at near gale to storm force for eastern coastal areas. Gusts locally in East Anglia are forecast to reach in excess of 60mph. These wind speeds are likely to churn up some very high seas and coastal flooding could become an issue for areas exposed to the north to north-northwesterly swell. High temperatures widely reaching 2 to 6C, locally 7 or 8C in the southwest, though feeling much colder in the strong northerly winds.

Showers will become increasingly confined to southeastern parts of England through Sunday evening where the strongest winds will remain concentrated. Showers will continue to be a mixture of rain and sleet. Clear skies will persist through the evening for many central and southern areas allowing temperatures to fall once more.

Have a great day!
Claire