STRONG winds are forecast for North Wales and Cheshire as Storm Ciara will bring heavy rain and widespread gales to the UK this weekend.

Storm Ciara will bring very strong winds to Flintshire, Wrexham and Cheshire West, and potentially some disruption to travel throughout Sunday.

The met office has issued a Yellow Warning for wind for the whole of the UK, warning that injury and danger to life from flying debris are possible

Storm Ciara is expected to bring a range of impacts, including delays and cancellations to transport services, damage to power supplies and large coastal waves.

Injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties

Damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, is also possible.

Warning of travel disruption this weekend

However, Flintshire and Wrexham, and the Cheshire communities of Chester, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham and Helsby, should miss the worst of the rain.

Yellow Warnings for rain are in place for North West Wales, including Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog, and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Named Storm Ciara by the Met Office on Wednesday, the low-pressure system is currently developing in the North Atlantic and will track eastwards towards the UK and Ireland over the coming days.

The Leader:

The Yellow Weather warning for wind covers the whole of the UK

Over the weekend wind gusts will widely reach 50-60 mph across many inland areas, with gusts of 80mph or higher in coastal areas and exposed locations.

The Met Office has issued several National Severe Weather Warnings for wind starting from Saturday for north-western areas, then covering the whole of the UK by Sunday.

Warnings for strong winds and snow are also in place for north-western areas on Monday and Tuesday.

Frank Saunders, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: “An extremely strong jet stream will steer a succession of low-pressure systems towards the UK over the next week, starting with Storm Ciara this weekend. Our confidence in the forecast means we have been able to issue severe weather warnings well in advance, giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm.”

Before Storm Ciara arrives, high pressure will bring largely fine conditions to most of the UK. It’ll stay dry with bright spells across eastern parts of the UK on Saturday, but it’ll turn more unsettled in the west with strengthening winds ahead of Storm Ciara.

Mr Saunders added: “The Met Office will continue to monitor the development of Storm Ciara and other potentially impactful low-pressure systems through next week. Warnings will be issued and amended as appropriate so members of the public should keep up to date with the Met Office forecast via our website, app or by following us on social media.”

Storm Ciara is the third named storm of the season which started in September. The naming convention now also includes the Dutch meteorological service, KNMI as well as existing partner Met Éireann. Storms are named to aid the communication of approaching severe weather, helping the public to be better placed to keep themselves, their property and businesses safe.