Storm Bert – branded a “multi-hazard event” – is barrelling towards the UK and will unleash heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow throughout the weekend.
Several weather warnings are in place, including two rare amber alerts, as the Met Office is concerned about travel disruption, power cuts and hazards presented by icy surfaces, especially in rural areas.
Snow is expected as far south as the Welsh valleys, particularly around Aberdare, but the heaviest will be later in the morning across Cumbria and Lancashire. Elsewhere, the heaviest of the rain is feared across the Isle of Man, Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
National Rail says various routes across England, Wales and Scotland will be affected by the weather, and some lines may be flooding due to the thawing of snow, which also fell earlier this week.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was a “multi-hazard event”. He said: “We’re looking at strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation, heavy rain, all in various different parts of the UK. So it’s quite a complex weather set-up for the weekend. Generally speaking, it’s a very unsettled weekend of weather ahead.”
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