Storm Angus to slam the UK with heavy rain and strong winds as Met Office warns of winter much harsher than the last

THIS year’s winter looks set to be colder, wetter and a lot more miserable than the last. 

According to the Met Office, the cold season has officially hit the UK, with forecasters warning the nation will be hit by a barrage of severe storms that will be a lot more frequent than last year.

Experts claim we’re mere days away from the first major storm of the season, which starts at the end of October and carries on until April.

The Met Office will continue to name all major storms, switching between male and female names.

First up is Storm Angus, which will be followed by Barbara, Conor and Doris.

The Met Office names any storm that has the potential to cause amber “be prepared”, or red “take action” weather warnings due to heavy rain, strong winds or both.

Last year’s storms were the first to receive names.

The Met Office and its Irish counterpart, Met Éireann, started naming storms in a bid to help identify weather systems that carried the risk of dangerous or disruptive conditions so the public would be able to follow forecasts more closely.

11 storms were named during the 2015/2016 season, starting with Storm Abigail.

Abigail developed out in the Atlantic on November 7, 2015, and hit the UK three days later, bringing 84mph winds and torrential rain along with it.

Five days after storm Abigail subsided, Storm Barney swept across the nation on November 16.

Clodagh followed shortly afterwards on November 29, causing major disruption to roads and railways across the UK.