UK weather: Met Office warns of ‘danger-to-life BOMB’ to hit this weekend with violent 80mph winds to lash Britain

THE Met Office has warned of "danger to life" as a "weather bomb" bringing 80mph winds is set to batter the UK this weekend.

Brits have been urged to brace for "disruptive" and "unpleasant" conditions by the end of this week as fresh yellow alerts are issued.

Met Office meteorologists confirmed a powerful jet stream is set to surge across the North Atlantic, bringing some of the strongest winds of the winter yet.

Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the weather agency, Chris Almond, told The Sun: “A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.

"Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

"The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week."

The Met Office has since issued a yellow weather warning for wind from midnight on Thursday until 12pm on Saturday.

It covers the entirety of Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and western Scotland.

The weather bomb is set to be sparked by large amount of cold of air moving over parts of North America, in stark contrast with higher temperatures across the continent.

This creates deeper low pressure systems being able to develop, and strengthens the jet stream.

Chris added: “As the low develops over the Atlantic and interacts with the jet stream it will rapidly strengthen, a phenomenon called ‘explosive cyclogenesis’, where the central pressure of a low at latitudes in which the UK lies drops 24 millibars or more in 24 hours.

"This is forecast to happen on Thursday while the system is out over the Atlantic and it will be a mature feature by the time it reaches the UK.”

Explosive cyclogenesis, also known as a weather bomb, brings fierce gales that are powerful enough to "bring down trees and cause structural damage", according to the Met Office.

It is also expected to unleash heavy rainfall, with forecasters cautioning that the conditions could disrupt travel and outdoor activities.

Affected areas may experience localised flooding and delays, particularly in northern regions.

And potential snowfall in the north may also add to the disruption, according to the Met Office.

The forecaster said in their long range weather forecast: "The change to much more unsettled conditions will begin on Friday as a deep area of low pressure, which is yet to develop, will be steered towards the UK on a powerful Jet Stream - fuelled by the recent cold spell over North America.

"A wet and windy few days are likely, with some snow in the north for a time, and then a continuation of these periods of rain followed by showers, often accompanied by strong winds, looks likely for the rest of the month and the start of February."

The Met Office adds: "There is the potential for weather warnings or even a named storm at some point.

"Temperatures at least should recover in most places, ending up a little above average, though admittedly not feeling like it at times."

Following Friday’s weather escalation, the unsettled pattern is likely to persist into February.

This period will feature bouts of heavy rain, strong winds, and occasional lulls, accompanied by fluctuating temperatures that may feel milder but still brisk in the gusty conditions.

It comes as the UKHSA issued fresh yellow alerts that cover the North East, North West and East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, as well as the East and West Midlands.

All of these warnings came into effect on Friday January 17 at 6pm and are set to end at 9am tomorrow.

Every region in England, excluding the South West, has been issued a yellow alert.

All of the alerts, except for in Yorkshire and The Humber, have warned that forecasted weather is likely to have "minor impacts" on both health and social care services.

This includes the increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people as well as a greater risk of life to this group.

Forecasters predict that temperatures during the day on Saturday are set to be milder.

However, frost and foggier patches are set to develop overnight on with colder conditions on Sunday morning.

The Met Office predicts that it will be around -1C in the Midlands and in Yorkshire, with the temperature only reaching 5C in southern England.

It comes two weeks after an icy blast hit the UK, with heavy snow falling across several counties and rainfall triggering floods which caused travel disruption with four airports having to close their runways.

Hundreds of schools were forced to close, and Leicestershire Police firefighters rescued 59 people from floodwater.