The UK is set to experience a tumultuous weekend of weather due to Storm Kathleen, which has prompted the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning for strong gusts and potential “danger to life” in western areas. Named by the Irish meteorological service Met Éireann, Storm Kathleen represents the 11th named storm in the past eight months and only the second time the UK has reached the letter ‘K’ in naming storms within a season.

Expected to intensify from Friday into Saturday, the storm brings with it winds gusting from 30-40mph across the country, escalating up to 60-70mph in some western regions, particularly affecting Northern Ireland. The Met Office has highlighted risks that include injuries and danger to life from large waves and beach material being hurled onto seafronts, alongside potential disruptions to road, rail, air, and ferry services, as well as possible power cuts and mobile phone coverage interruptions.

Contrasting the storm’s impact, parts of south-eastern England may enjoy warm spells of sunshine with temperatures reaching up to 18C. This variance in weather comes amid news of an Iberian plume pushing northwards, which is expected to bring temperatures as high as 27C to parts of northern Europe, including a forecast of 21-22C for East Anglia and 19-21C in southeast England for the weekend.

Scotland, meanwhile, has emerged from a yellow warning for snow, with the storm expected to cause plummeting temperatures to around 0°C in northern areas, in addition to the prevalent wet and windy conditions. Reports have detailed chaos on Scottish roads, such as the A9, A85, and A889, due to intense rain and snow.

Looking ahead, the Met Office anticipates a mixed weather outlook for the coming weeks, with the possibility of settled warm weather in April tempered by occasional rain showers and strong winds. Unsettled weather is expected to persist until mid-April, though there may be spells of settled weather, particularly in southern areas, with temperatures forecasted to remain above average.

In preparation for the weekend, the Met Office has advised the public to stay informed on weather alerts and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during the diverse and challenging weather conditions presented by Storm Kathleen.