Storm Gerrit: Yellow weather warning for strong wind issued for parts of Flintshire

Starting Wednesday evening, winds are forecast to reach gusts of 50 to 60 mph, with the potential for 65 to 70 mph gusts around exposed coasts and over high ground.

The warning is in place from 6pm Wednesday to 3am on Thursday.

A Met Office said: “Through Wednesday evening, a spell of very severe gales is expected to sweep east and northeast across the Celtic and Irish Sea to produce gusts of 50 to 60 mph in parts of west Wales and northwest England.”

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders said: “Storm Gerrit will run towards western UK on Wednesday and bring with it potential impacts for much of the UK.

“Winds across southern coastal areas of England will be strong, possibly peaking around 70 mph on exposed coastlines, but more widely around 50-60 mph within the warning area.

“Rain is an additional hazard from Storm Gerrit, with active weather fronts leading to a wet day for many. Snow is also likely to cause problems for some northern areas: only briefly for a few upland routes across the Pennines and southern Scotland overnight and early on Wednesday, but more widely to the north of the Central Lowlands later in the day. Here around 10 to possibly 20cm of snow may affect some of the highest routes, this combining with very strong winds to lead to some difficult travel conditions. At lower levels a combination of heavy rain and very strong winds will dominate.”

Storm Gerrit will transition gradually to the northeast late on Wednesday and into Thursday. Further unsettled weather is likely later in the week, with strong winds, rain and some upland snow.