UK STORM FORECAST: Britain to be SMASHED by ferocious 80MPH gales in just 12 HOURS

A HUGE storm poised to rip into Britain threatens to unleash 80mph gales and torrential downpours causing a raft of flood alerts across the country.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/910563/UK-weather-latest-forecast-met-office-storms-rain-weekend-weather-news-flood#t=8s
Scotland and northern England will be drenched by more than half a month’s rain this weekend as heavy showers sweep the region.

Much of the country faces a wet and windy day tomorrow as a deep low-pressure system crosses the northern tip of Britain.

Storm-force gusts threaten to lash exposed regions with severe 70mph gales forecast widely across Scotland into Sunday.

Government officials have issued a raft of flood alerts around the country as river levels rise due to heavy rain and melting snow.

Hector would be the eighth storm system to hammer the UK this season although the Met Office has not yet issued a name.

Whitehall forecasters said winds will start to pick up across the north during the early hours of tomorrow.

Spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: “Winds will mainly affect Scotland and the northern Isles although for much of the country Saturday will be blustery with outbreaks of rain.

Britain is braced for major storms to smash into the country tomorrow morning

Britain is preparing for storms and 80mph gales this weekend

“Severe gales will affect the far north with winds of between 60 to 70mph and 80mph in exposed spots.

“There is a risk of storm-force winds across Shetland particularly later in the day.

“The last of the winds will be passing through on Sunday and there will be some heavier and more persistent rainfall.”

Heavy downpours will dump more than three inches of rain in the far north by the end of the weekend, she added.

Ms Maxey said: “Rainfall will become more persistent by the end of sunday and we expect to see 60 to 80mm of rain with 80mm [3.1ins] possible in some spots.”