By Bethan Finighan
Copyright manchestereveningnews
Tropical Storm Gabrielle is expected to strengthen into a hurricane today, as the Met Office reveals it could soon impact UK weather. The weather agency has warned that the storm, set to become ex-Hurricane Gabrielle by the time it approaches the UK, could bring ‘strong winds’ to parts of the country. The US National Hurricane Center has said the storm is expected to become a hurricane in the evening of September 21 as it moves north across the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters predict Gabrielle could become a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph sustained winds, passing east of Bermuda by Monday (September 22). As it moves across the Atlantic and towards the UK, the Met Office says it could impact the west of the country. The Met Office said in its long-range forecast, which runs from Friday (September 26) to October 5: “Continuation of the settled weather of the previous few days into Friday for most. Dry for the vast majority, with light winds and sunny spells by day; overnight there will be a risk of mist or isolated fog patches. “However we then enter into a very uncertain period as thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain try to push in from the Atlantic. “Confidence in any breakdown to unsettled weather however is very low, influenced by ex-Hurricane Gabrielle, which may approach the UK during this time. “On balance some rain, and potentially some strong winds are likely to affect at least the west of the UK. “The following week will most likely see a west to east split, with wettest weather remaining in western areas. Temperatures around to above average.” It comes after a number of UK areas were hit with yellow weather warnings over the weekend. Rain and wind warnings were issued by the Met Office across Wales, northern England and the Midlands. Following the torrential rain, a number of flood warnings and alerts were issued by the Environment Agency across England and Wales. No UK weather warnings have been issued ahead of ex-Hurricane Gabrielle reaching the UK, but the Met Office will issue updates as confidence in the forecast grows.
