Dire weather warnings of a severe nature have presaged the arrival of Storm Ciarán, anticipated to make landfall upon the United Kingdom this Wednesday night. Forecasters from The Met Office ushered in this amber alert, notifying residents of an impending onslaught of ferocious winds and tempest-tossed seas directed at southern regions of the land.
Furthermore, inclement weather in the form of heavy rainfall is predicted to make its way north, potentially exacerbating existing flood conditions. Expectations of travel disruptions have been flagged with residents advised to remain vigilant to regular updates.
Named Storm Ciarán, arrives with dramatic flair, expected to escalate at an alarming pace as it sets its course toward the UK on Wednesday. The storm is fuelled by a mechanism known as explosive cyclogenesis, a process wherein a low-pressure system amplifies over 24 millibars in a span of only 24 hours.
This escalation is propelled by a robust jet stream—winds residing in the upper echelons of the atmosphere—clocking in at approximately 200mph or 322km/h. This potent force cultivates ample energy for the storm system to flourish.
Historically, Storm Ciarán has the potential to etch its name as one of the lowest pressure systems to be recorded in the month of November in the UK, in intimate proximity to the prevailing record of 948.4mb set in 1954.
As Storm Ciarán sweeps in from the south-west, winds will intensify, becoming an imposing presence from Wednesday and through Thursday. South-west England and south-west Wales are set to face the most severe gusts, earning the first of the two amber warning areas, effective from 3 am until noon on Thursday. Coastal regions are likely to sustain 70-80mph (112-130km/h) gusts, potentially peaking at 85mph (137km/h) in the most vulnerable areas.
As the storm continues its path, the brunt of the winds will transfer eastward along the south coast into southeast England. This region falls under a second amber warning, in effect from 6 am to 8 pm on Thursday. These fierce winds have the capacity to inflict damage on trees, power lines, and disrupt transportation. Expect potential disruptions in cross-channel ferry services and potential repercussions for coastal areas due to the onslaught of giant waves.
In southern UK regions further inland, gusts could reach an altitude of 50-60mph (80-97km/h). This storm’s range and power not only depend on the intensity of winds but also the course of Storm Ciarán. However, the exact extent remains uncertain according to The Met Office.
Storm Ciarán carries with it relentless downpours moving northeast from Wednesday evening, continuing throughout Thursday. The consecutive heavy showers and potential thunderstorms bring with them a marked increase in rainfall across the region.
Despite not featuring outlandishly high rainfall totals, the storm presages potential flooding complications, given that it follows a notably wet season. With the ground already thoroughly saturated and river levels abnormally high, there exist around 70 flood warnings currently in effect across the UK. This cocktail of weathered conditions could potentially lead to further flooding in the days to come.
