UK weather forecast: Storm Barra set to batter London with 50mph winds

Sami Quadri7 December 2021

London will be battered by 50mph winds on Tuesday as Storm Barra reaches the capital.

Forecasters have issued yellow weather warnings after predicting strong gusts and heavy rainfall in the south of England from lunch time on Tuesday.

Dan Stroud, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: “During course of the overnight period on Monday, we have an active front moving in from the west.

“That is going to bring a short-lived spell of heavy rain and gusty conditions in London during mid to late morning and early afternoon. Moderate to heavy rain with gusty conditions.

Storm Barra - In pictures

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“Then on Tuesday we get high pressure which will clear the skies overnight into Tuesday. Storm Barra then starts to move in – it’s an intense area of low pressure as it crosses the UK from Ireland in Tuesday morning and into the afternoon.

“Quite a cold start on Tuesday morning, there will be outbreaks of heavy rain by lunch time in London and then clearing eastwards.

“Temperatures will be around 0C so a very chilly start in London. But temperatures recovering quickly as cloud moves in. But the biggest feature that everyone will notice on Tuesday is the strength of the wind.

“We do have a yellow wing warning in effect. We’re expecting gusts of 45 to 50 mph but it’s unlikely to hit London until late morning or early afternoon. But there will certainly be a spell of strong gusty winds moving through London.”

As the storm begins to mature on Wednesday, he added the capital will experience another “unsettled day with showers and longer spells of rain” and a risk of gales.

Winter weather Dec 6th 2021
People prepare for Storm Barra in Westminster
PA

It comes as Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said it is "totally unacceptable" some people are still without power more than a week after Storm Arwen.

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said that 4,025 homes were still waiting to be reconnected as of 8am on Sunday. This is down from 4,700 homes on Saturday night.

The majority of the impacted homes are in the north-east of England, the ENA added.

Mr Kwarteng visited Durham to survey the damage done by the storm.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I completely accept that this is totally unacceptable.

"It’s wrong and bad for people to be off power for such a long time. That’s why I’m here to make sure that we can get people back on as quickly as possible.

"As I’ve said, for 99.5 per cent of people they’re back on, but for the ones that are still having to put up with this is is unacceptable."

He added a review will be carried out and if energy firms are found to have failed to invest in infrastructure then "there could be enforcement action".

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