Storm Henry to bring severe gales tonight

Forecast chart for midnight on Tuesday 2 February 2016 Credit: Met Office

Storm Henry is forecast to bring severe gales and heavy rain to much of Scotland and the Western Isles later today and into Tuesday.

The vigorous low pressure system – named as Storm Henry by the Met Office and Met Éireann – is approaching the UK from the Atlantic. This system is expected to pass just to the north of Scotland, bringing very strong west or southwesterly winds across much of the UK.

The Met Office today issued an Amber ‘be prepared’ National Severe Weather Warning for Storm Henry which is valid until 9am tomorrow, Tuesday 2 February.

Storm Henry closely follows Storm Gertrude, which tracked away from Shetland on Friday night.

A Yellow ‘be aware’ Severe Weather Warning for wind, which is rapidly approaching from the Atlantic, is in place for the whole of the northern UK (except Shetland) and Northern Ireland. This warning will remain in place until 9am tomorrow.

The wind warning was upgraded to Amber for most of Scotland, except southernmost parts, this afternoon. The storm may bring disruption to transport as well as power supplies. The strongest winds are expected between 9pm this evening and 3am tomorrow morning.

A Yellow Severe Weather Warning for rain for mainly northern and western Scotland will be in place from 6pm this evening until 6pm tomorrow.

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Matthew Lewis, deputy chief operational meteorologist said: ‘A combination of strong winds and heavy rain is expected to bring some localised flooding and disruption to transport and power supplies. At the height of the storm large waves will be an additional hazard, particularly along western-facing coasts.

‘Our forecast pages, Facebook and Twitter sites and our Weather App can all help you keep up to date with the weather so that you can plan ahead and be prepared.’