Storm Florence heads to UK with heavy rain and 65mph winds to be expected.
Sweeping the Atlantic is Tropical Storm Florence, which is set to head to the UK bringing gale force winds of up to 65mph.
Spells of wet and windy weather for western Europe may be the result as the storm, currently near the US, could bring dramatic changes to current humid temperatures, as reported by the Mirror.
Florence is this year’s latest tropical storm and is moving in a north-northwesterly direction towards the US east coast.
However, there are a number of signs that it could strengthen into a hurricane next week as it travels over warmer waters – a key factor in intensifying storms.
Dr. Claire Kennedy-Edwards, senior meteorologist of The Weather Channel, said Florence is expected to re-curve across the northern Atlantic, turn extra-tropical and transition into a mid-latitude low.
She said: “Some forecast models are favouring a more westward track for Tropical Storm Florence, which could impact north-eastern areas of the US.
“However, others show the storm re-curving around the subtropical ridge as the remnants of Florence get entrained into the jet stream.
“Latest model runs show a variety of downstream effects for western Europe.”
There is a risk that western parts of Europe could become very unsettled in the coming weeks.
Potent remnants of Florence could be absorbed by the jet stream and be pushed towards western parts of the near continent – including Britain – around mid-September.
The latest outlook for autumn in the UK shows three months of above average temperatures, with largely dry and bright conditions.
However, Amy Hodgson, forecaster of The Weather Channel, said as the Atlantic hurricane season begins to reach its peak, this could change thanks to spells of unsettled, stormy weather.
She said there is a risk of low pressure edging in across western Europe over the next 11-15 days.
Should this occur, unsettled, wet and windy weather is likely to affect western Europe due to the tail-end of Florence.
But, forecasts still remain uncertain at this time.
Other computer models indicate that Florence will arrive across north-west Europe towards Iceland around September 15.
Meanwhile, another suggests it moves around the Atlantic ridge towards Spain and Portugal by September 17.
The forecaster added: “An increase in tropical activity creates model uncertainty for Europe mid-range forecasts with confidence generally lower confidence at this time of the year.”
