Storm Elin named as Wales braced for strong winds

Gusts of up to 70 mph are forecast

Author: Gavin RutterPublished 9th Dec 2023

Storm Elin is bringing strong winds and heavy downpours to much of Wales.

The storm was named by the Irish meteorological service, Met Eireann, as a series of weather warnings were issued across the British and Irish isles.

In Wales, a yellow weather warning is in place for the whole of the country, with winds of up to 70mph expected to move in.

Areas with Irish Sea coasts could see the strongest gusts, with other areas experiencing wind speeds of between 45mph and 55mph, the Met Office said.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said a band of heavy wind and rain will move from the south-west of the UK towards the north-east on Saturday, "bringing with it heavy rain for much of the country".

He said: "By the afternoon most of the heavy wind and rain will have passed and it will just be showers for southern areas.

"We will also be seeing some quite strong winds in Wales, the Midlands, northern England and Northern Ireland, particularly coastal communities around the Irish Sea.

"We're in for a wet and windy weekend."

The bad weather could cause delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport, and coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities may be affected by spray and large waves, the forecaster said.

Earlier, Natural Resources Wales issued its first flood warnings.

The unsettled weather will continue into Sunday and next week, with a chance of further weather warnings.

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