Issued: 0530hrs Sunday 8th December 2019
Duty forecaster: Claire Darbinyan

A very windy and wet day for the UK and Ireland with widespread gales expected. Showers and outbreaks of rain affecting western areas. Staying drier for parts of eastern Scotland and much of eastern England.

Good morning,

A windy start to the day across the country with wind gusts of up to 60mph for western coasts and 45 to 50mph across Ireland, Scotland and northwestern parts of England and Wales. A dry and bright start for eastern areas, cloudier with showers and outbreaks of rain to the west. This turns to snow over northwestern parts of Scotland. Winds strengthen through the morning while outbreaks of rain spread into central areas. Some heavy bursts of rain possible around the Bristol Channel.

Winds stay strong across the country through Sunday afternoon though perhaps easing for a time over western Scotland. Elsewhere coastal gusts widely reaching 60mph, higher to the west of Ireland. Inland gusts could reach 45mph. Outbreaks of rain, some heavy, continue over western areas and spread to eastern Ireland. The heaviest rain probably around the northern part of the Irish Sea. Staying drier over eastern parts of Scotland and England

Winds strengthen again into Sunday evening though easing over northeast England. Gusts of 60 to 65mph are possible for western coastal areas of Ireland and the UK, through the English Channel and through the Irish Sea. Outbreaks of rain and snow continue over the northern half of Scotland while a band of heavy showers spreads across Wales and western England.

Take care out there today!

Claire