Residents and holidaymakers along the Welsh coast have been warned to brace for potential flooding in the coming days. The combination of high astronomical spring tides and the next named storm could bring winds of up to 80mph and cause disruption. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has said that this, along with the current unsettled weather, is “contributing to the risk of flooding”. It comes after parts of Wales saw between 50-80mm of rain over a 36-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday.
Now, another area of low pressure is heading our way for Sunday, with BBC Wales weather presenter Sabrina Lee warning of a “potential for the next named storm”. The Met Office has said: “We’re keeping a close eye on developments in the Atlantic Ocean this weekend. An area of low pressure is expected to ‘explosively’ deepen as it crosses the jet stream and this will bring a period of stormy weather to parts of the British Isles on Sunday.” Current forecasts suggest that Northern Ireland and northwest Scotland will be most affected. However, a Met Office weather warning also covers northwest Wales.
With this in mind, we’ve examined what the Met Office weather maps reveal about where will be hit hardest as Wales prepares for Storm Ashley.
On Saturday, October 19, at 10.30am, ahead of Sunday, it is set to be a settled day with only a scattering of rain on the south Wales coastline. Later at 2pm, the clear weather continues with only patches of rain across the country, and temperatures around 15C-16C for most areas. The evening at 9pm will remain settled, with temperatures dropping slightly.
Moving on to Sunday, at 3.30am, a band of heavy rain is expected to shift from Ireland towards west Wales. By 5am, more parts of Wales, particularly Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Swansea areas, will experience rain. At 10am, most of Wales will be engulfed by heavy rainfall, with wind speeds increasing. By the afternoon at 1pm, the rain will shift away from Wales, leaving the region fairly dry, with temperatures around 14C-15C. The evening and night will remain settled with decreasing wind speeds.
The Met Office has upgraded the weather warning for Sunday, with more areas of Wales added to the alert. As Storm Ashley approaches, precautions are being taken across Wales to mitigate potential damages and ensure public safety. Stay informed with the latest updates as authorities monitor the situation and provide necessary guidance to residents and visitors.