THE HATCHES! 100-day storm roaring in from today
BRITAIN is braced for a washout winter with three months of storms and torrential downpours – starting today.
Weather experts say unprecedented rainfall could be dumped on the country over the next 100 days.
The warning comes as a 1,000-mile-wide, lowpressure vortex is set to batter the UK until Wednesday bringing rain and gusts of up to 60mph in the north west.
It threatens to become autumn’s first named storm, with large areas of the nation facing six inches of rain and 22ft waves predicted.
And forecasters predict severe wind and rain could batter us into January – heralding a wet and windy end to the year.
Gales of more than 100mph are expected, which could cause power cuts and travel chaos.
It is more bad news after the Daily Star Sunday revealed last week that an Arctic freeze is on the way.
Along with storm warnings, experts reckon the nation could face a record winter chiller. Government forecasters are briefing councils, transport chiefs and the emergency services to prepare for the harsh conditions expected.
Met Office forecasters said there was an “increased likelihood of impacts from high winds and heavy rainfall” from now until 2020.
They added: “The chances of rainfall being above average are moderately greater than below-average. The probability October-December will fall into the wettest of our five categories is between 25 and 30%.”
Damage to property and blocked roads and rail lines are expected.
Disruption is set to cost the economy hundreds of millions of pounds as commuters are delayed or stranded.
Weather experts said northern areas will be worst hit. Brian Gaze from The Weather Outlook said: “Autumn looks wet and wild overall.
“Gusts of 100mph on Scotland’s high ground and 80mph in south-west and north-west England’s exposed parts are expected, given long-term computer models showing storm risks.
“But all parts of the country are due to see spells of strong winds at times, with the south and east also affected.
“Travel disruption, power cuts and flooding are expected.”
The remnants of Hurricane Lorenzo are still battering the UK, with strong winds and heavy rain.
The tropical storm swept across the country yesterday but torrential rain and gales are expected to continue for most of this week.