Storm Otto weather warning as Met Office confirms sudden stratospheric warming event – live
Disruption expected until afternoon
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Your support makes all the difference.Trains have been cancelled and hundreds of schools closed as Storm Otto lashes Scotland and England.
Rail lines between York and Edinburgh are currently blocked as low-cost rail operator Lumo warned this morning: “Due to high winds between York and Edinburgh all lines are blocked.
Meanwhile The Met Office has confirmed a new ‘stratospheric event’ that previously led to the 2018’s Beast from the East snowstorm has started.
Despite the name, Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) can cause very cold conditions similar to five years ago, when the UK saw up to 22 inches of snowfall.
Meanwhile, electricity company SSEN has said there are 101 power outages in Scotland, and more than 130,000 customers on its priority services register have been contacted with storm advice.
Yellow weather warnings for wind have been issued for the whole of Scotland and a stretch of north and north-east England running from Sheffield to the Scottish border.
Met Office weather forecast as Storm Otto hits
Today:
Severe gales affecting parts of Scotland, with some very strong gusts over and east of the Pennines; winds easing by afternoon, with sunny intervals and scattered showers. Further south, very mild, occasionally brighter ahead of a weakening rain band.
Tonight:
Southern and central areas, mild and cloudy with patchy drizzle, especially for western hills. Scotland sees heavier rain spreading northeast, with snow on hills to north of the central belt.
Saturday:
Rain and hill snow in Scotland eases, with some brightness, though rain may return later. Some drizzly rain further south, but mild with a few brighter spell by afternoon.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Windy with rain at times in the north, perhaps with wintry showers later on Tuesday. Drier in the south, but with drizzle in the west. Mostly mild or very mild.
Man in hospital after a tree fell on Sheffield street
A man has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after a tree fell on a street in Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Police said they were called to Endcliffe Vale Road at 8.50am on Friday.A spokesperson said: “A man in his 50s was injured and was taken to hospital in serious condition. A property nearby was also damaged and structural engineers are at the scene.
“The road is currently closed with emergency services at the scene. The council and GeoAmey are also currently in attendance.
“Motorists are advised to take alternative routes whilst the road is closed.”
Met Office issues yellow warning for snow and ice on Saturday
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued over parts of Scotland for Saturday.
The Met Office said: “Ice and snow may lead to some travel disruption across parts of Scotland on Saturday morning, mostly on high level routes.”
Here’s what to expect:
- Some higher level roads and railways are likely to be affected, leading to longer journeys by car, bus and train
- Icy patches are possible on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths
- Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
Warning on severe weather event that caused ‘Beast from the East’
A weather event that caused the ‘Beast from the East’ storm in 2018 could be about to hit Europe again, forecasters say.
The UK Met Office said a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event was “likely” to take place in the next few weeks.
A SSW event is when rapid warming occurs high up in the atmosphere but can change weather on land.
It makes the jet stream meander more, which can lead to a large area of blocking high pressure over northern Europe, including the UK.
Matt Mathers reports:
Met Office issues warning on new Beast from the East 2023
Met Office says there is an 80 per cent chance of a suddent stratospheric warming event taking place but no guarantee of what type of weather it will bring
Watch: Fallen tree flattens Porsche amid Storm Otto passing
A parked Porsche was flattened by a tree that fell due to high speed winds in today’s storm.
What weather does the weekend have in store?
While Scotland will see snow on Saturday, the weather for the rest of the country this weekend will generally be milder than the blustery winds we have seen today.
The Met Office has more:
Met Office weather forecast for this weekend
Tonight:
Southern and central areas, mild and cloudy with patchy drizzle, especially for western hills. Scotland sees heavier rain spreading northeast, with snow on hills to north of the central belt.
Saturday:
Rain and hill snow in Scotland eases, with some brightness, though rain may return later. Some drizzly rain further south, but mild with a few brighter spell by afternoon.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Windy with rain at times in the north, perhaps with wintry showers later on Tuesday. Drier in the south, but with drizzle in the west. Mostly mild or very mild.
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