STORM Atiyah will continue to smash through the UK today with 80mph winds — before another storm barrels into Britain on Tuesday.
The Met Office has warned that Christmas decorations could become dangerous projectiles in the stormy weather and homeowners should secure ornaments as wind speeds pick up.
With its yellow warning for wind, which is in place for Monday morning, the Met Office said “any loose items” left outdoors should be secured as the storm slams into the UK.
But after the winds die down this afternoon, another storm will menace the UK on Tuesday — when torrential downpours forecast and potentially even stronger gales.
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Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said: “Atiyah has very big waves and 80mph gusts possible in exposed parts of the South-West, with 50mph gusts in the East.
“A second low-pressure area on Tuesday could be stronger than Atiyah in terms of gusts.
“It’s a watching brief regarding naming that storm. We’re confident warnings will be issued, with power outages possible.
“Gusts of 50-60 mph in England, 70mph in Scotland and over 100mph on Cairngorm are expected.
“Wednesday looks windy, with Thursday not nice with blustery rain in the South and chilly showers in the North with the chance of wintry showers on higher ground in Scotland, but no major disruption.
“A surge of cold air from Canada brings colder conditions by the weekend, with the chance of snow in the following week — especially in central parts — with strong winds for the run-up to Christmas, with potent low pressure areas.”
The second storm, a “weather bomb” which could be even stronger than Atiyah, is expected to have gusts of 60mph more widely in England, 70mph in Scotland and 100mph on Scotland’s mountains.
The weather system is expected to be named Storm Brendan – the UK’s second named storm this season.
Coastal towns have been warned of high waves and flooding as the storm is set to batter Britain into this week.
The Environment Agency said: “Localised flooding is possible on east and south coasts on Monday, and rivers and surface water in the West on Tuesday.
“There may be travel disruption.”
28ft waves are due on Scotland’s west coast, with 40ft offshore as the winter storm picks up pace.
The Met Office will only name the tempest as Storm Brendan if it has the potential for amber weather warnings.
Tuesday’s storm is known as a “weather bomb” by forecasters due to “explosive cyclogenesis,” as it strengthens when the air pressure decreases, Met Office forecasters said.
Thursday’s election day faces blustery showers, which could deter undecided or elderly voters from visiting polling stations.
A chill from Canada follows by the weekend, with snow threatening the Midlands in the following days and more named storms forecast in the week before Christmas.
Former BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond said: “Turbulent times are ahead.
“Mid-month could be wild. A strong jet stream looks like bringing a series of potent weather systems, with potential for disruptive wind and rain which could prompt storms being named.”
