Kathleen has hit the UK and with it she brings 70mph winds and a danger to life warning (Picture: North News/Metro.co.uk)
Storm Kathleen has hit and with it comes very strong winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Temperatures will reach a whopping 22°C in East Anglia as the UK is blown by warm air from the continent.
Western parts of the UK will be blown so hard by Kathleen that 70mph winds are expected.
Elsewhere across the country, her might will also be felt with 50-60mph strong winds.
Kathleen’s arrival brings with it a yellow weather warning for wind in the north west and south west of England, parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, from 8am to 10pm.
The Met Office warning was updated on Friday and warned of injuries and danger to life from ‘large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties’, a possibility that ‘road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected’ and the potential for power cuts and phone service outages.
Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: ‘The storm is the reason we are seeing the warmer temperatures, because the location of the storm – situated out towards the west of the UK – is bringing a southerly wind across the UK.
‘This is bringing those warmer temperatures from the continent, meaning we are likely to see temperatures reaching 22°C.
Weather warning map as Storm Kathleen hits (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Many people like this woman will be forced to protect themselves against Kathleen’s force (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Brave onlookers get a close up view as huge waves crash against the promenade in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, as Storm Kathleen approaches (Picture: North News & Pictures)
‘Storm Kathleen is likely to bring some heavy rain across the UK overnight, which will spread its way northwards across the country.
‘For most places it should be a relatively dry start to Saturday.
‘Almost anywhere is going to see above average temperatures. Western parts of the UK are likely to see temperatures of 15 or 16°C.
‘However, the further west you are, where those strongest winds are in that yellow warning area, despite the temperatures being above average it will feel a little colder.
People brave the wind and rain on Blackpool’s North Pier as Kathleen approaches (Picture: Getty Images)
‘There will still be some showers around, but there should be some sunshine between those showers.
‘It is generally remaining unsettled through much of next week.
‘There is another area of low pressure moving towards the UK through Monday and into Tuesday. That is likely to bring some heavy rain for much of the UK, particularly in the West.’
Storm Kathleen is the 11th named storm in eight months.
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It is only the second time in a UK storm season that the letter K has been reached in the alphabet.
There could be some problems on the roads as well and RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis warned: ‘This intense period of stormy weather is going to prove extremely challenging for anyone driving on the western side of the UK.
‘We strongly urge drivers to avoid exposed coasts and higher routes where the impact of the very strong winds is most likely to be felt.’
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