Forecasters are cautioning that the remnants of a powerful 140mph hurricane heading towards Europe are likely to bring heavy rain to the UK in the upcoming days.
Hurricane Gabrielle, currently a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, is believed by meteorologists to have the potential to cause significant damage. The storm is expected to track towards Europe, particularly impacting Portugal’s Azores, prompting residents there to prepare for potential destruction.
While the hurricane itself is not anticipated to directly impact the UK, its leftover effects are forecasted to result in a wet and windy weekend. Meteorologist Nick Finnis from Netweather mentioned that Gabrielle will move towards western Europe, injecting tropical energy into the jet stream and ushering in more unsettled weather patterns.
Although the exact timing of the rainfall remains uncertain, the weekend is predicted to be particularly wet and possibly thundery, affecting regions like the Midlands and the East of England. Rainfall amounts exceeding 12mm are expected in areas such as Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire within a short period.
Following heavy rain over the weekend that caused flooding in parts of the Northwest of England, including Salford and north Wales, only a few flood warnings and alerts are currently active. Concerns persist for campsites near Keswick, Cumbria, and the Upper River Ouse in York. The Met Office also foresees a generally unsettled weather outlook for most regions during the upcoming weekend.
Gabrielle, with sustained winds of 140 mph, was positioned east-southeast of Bermuda on Monday afternoon, moving north-northeast. The hurricane intensified in warm Atlantic waters, leading to swells affecting Bermuda and the US East Coast, creating potentially hazardous surf and rip current conditions. The Atlantic hurricane season concludes on November 30.
