Tail of Hurricane Zeta to strike UK soon after Storm Aiden hits
The UK will be battered by heavy rain and strong winds this weekend as Storm Aiden and the remnants of Hurricane Zeta hit in quick succession.
The two separate Atlantic low-pressure systems will pass over the UK on Saturday and Sunday, bringing disruption and risk of flooding to some areas. Zeta lashed the US Gulf Coast shore earlier this week.
The Met Office has issued a series of yellow warnings for rain through to Sunday.
Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said: ‘A low pressure system that is bringing wind and rain to the UK on Saturday has just been named Storm Aiden by Met Eireann and will be followed by the remnants of Zeta on Sunday.
‘One will pass over tightly after the other. There are a number of rain warnings out, and very unsettled weather can be expected widely throughout the whole weekend.’
Before the two systems hit, a warning lasting until midnight on Friday says there could be damage to homes and businesses, travel cancellations and power cuts.
It predicts heavy rain and gales, with the mountains of north-west Wales and Cumbria set to be hit by the worst drenching as more than 100mm of rainfall is possible.
Elsewhere in the warning zone, which also covers parts of north-west England, Wales, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, areas of higher ground could see strong to gale-force winds and 50 to 80mm of rainfall, while 25 to 40mm could fall at lower levels.
On Saturday, when Storm Aiden is set to arrive, two further warnings have been issued lasting throughout the day.
One, from 6am on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, covers western Scotland where bouts of rain bring a risk of flooding.
Another lasting until 9pm on Saturday covers parts of Wales, north west England and Yorkshire and Humber.
Across some hills and mountains, particularly north west Wales, there could be 80 to 100mm of rainfall while 40 to 60mm could fall elsewhere on high ground.
There could also be 20 to 30mm of rainfall in many places.
The final warning, which lasts from 9am on Sunday until midnight, predicts ‘periods of heavy rain’ in Wales and north-west England and will bring the risk of further flooding.
Gary White, the duty tactical manager for Natural Resources Wales, said flooding is likely up and down the country over the next few days.
He said: ‘Our emergency response workers will be at key sites checking defences are in good working order and making sure any drainage grids and screens are clear to reduce the risk to people and their homes.’
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