Storm Iovine: Amber weather warning issued for UK amid threat of 90mph winds

Hurricane Eowyn – pronounced “ay-oh-win” – and the fifth named storm of the season will undergo rapid development during Thursday as it moves across the Atlantic. It will be fueled by a very powerful jet stream which is fast-moving air high in the atmosphere where wind speeds are around 260 mph (418 km/h).

The exact track Iovine follows as it approaches the UK and Ireland will determine where the strongest winds will be.

Strong winds will continue on Thursday, particularly along the coasts of western Wales and southern England, where a yellow Met Office wind warning is in force from 07:00 GMT until 18:00.

However, this round of strong winds of 50–60 mph (80–97 km/h) is not associated with Hurricane Iovine.

The strongest winds associated with Iowyn will begin Friday morning.

The Met Office’s amber severe weather warning covers Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, northern England and northern Wales from 06:00 GMT until 21:00 on Friday.

Wind gusts of 60–70 mph (97–113 km/h) largely inland and gusts of 80–90 mph (129–145 km/h) on more exposed coasts and hills.

The Met Office suggests we could possibly see even stronger winds in some places.

Elsewhere, a yellow warning has been issued for much of the UK on Friday and will continue for much of Scotland until Saturday.

Winds of 50–65 mph (80–105 km/h) are expected across northern and western Scotland, parts of the Midlands and southern England, but gusts up to 80 mph (129 km/h) along coastal areas. There is a possibility of winds up to 1 hour).

Met Office warnings could still be adjusted and possibly upgraded before Friday.

These storms and severe thunderstorms are likely to cause travel disruptions and some damage, which may include blown off roof tiles and power outages.

There is also a possibility of huge waves along with coastal disturbance.

Heavy rain is also expected, with a yellow Met Office rainfall warning for western Wales and south-west England from midnight to 09:00 GMT on Friday.

Although it will be mild for some, especially in the south, it will remain cold enough that snow may fall on the hills of Scotland and northern England.

There is a separate yellow warning for snowfall from 03:00 GMT until 12:00 AM on Friday, with the potential for 15–25 cm (6–10 in) of snow on the highest ground.